Origin
Granite City, IL
Late night in Granite City on Saturday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Granite City, IL to Schaumburg, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 33m
Distance
294.4 mi
474 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 20m
★
6 AM
5h 34m
8 AM
6h 0m
10 AM
5h 43m
12 PM
5h 40m
3 PM
5h 44m
5 PM
5h 59m
8 PM
5h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Granite City, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Schaumburg, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Granite City, IL to Schaumburg, IL covers 294.4 miles and takes about 5h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, Veterans Memorial Tollway, I 270 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 249.1 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.03 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
147.2 miles from Granite City, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in Schaumburg, IL
Full guide →Schaumburg is a city in Chicagoland, best known for its ever popular Woodfield Mall, the largest mall in Illinois. Its name is derived from a place in Germany.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 33m. Total distance: 294.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 33m highway drive covering 294.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and Veterans Memorial Tollway. The longest continuous stretch is about 249.1 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 249.1 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
789 ft
422 ft
Total Climb
645 ft
Total Descent
277 ft
Highest Point
789 ft
~294.4 mi in
Elevation Range
367 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Veterans Memorial Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 294.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 15.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
15.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 15B
Toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield
7
123 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m in
|
I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
152.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
|
I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
8
264.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 52m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 269
Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest...
8
290.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 25m in
Take the exit toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Ro...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Granite City, IL and Schaumburg, IL, road signs point toward Springfield, Peoria and Southwest Suburbs.
Springfield
15.5 mi in
|
~21m
Peoria
152.4 mi in
|
~2h 49m
|
via I 55
Southwest Suburbs
264.9 mi in
|
~4h 52m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 249.1 mi | 4h 30m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 19.2 mi | 24m |
| I 270 | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| I 290 | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| Nameoki Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Madison Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| East Higgins Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| West Higgins Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 249.1 mi, about 4h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Granite City, IL and Schaumburg, IL.
1
Start on Niedringhaus Avenue
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Niedringhaus Avenue
2
Turn left onto Madison Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Avenue
3
Turn left onto IL 203
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Nameoki Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 270 East: Effingham
5
Merge onto I 270
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
I 270
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 15B
Toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield
7
Merge onto I 55
107 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
I 55
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
112 mi
·
2 hr 3 min
·
I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 269
Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
12
Merge onto I 355
19 mi
·
24 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 290
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 1B
Toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto IL 72
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Higgins Road
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on IL 72
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Higgins Road
17
Turn left onto North Roselle Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Roselle Road
18
Turn right onto West Thacker Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Thacker Street
19
Turn left onto North Pleasant Drive
426 ft
·
18 sec
·
North Pleasant Drive
20
Arrive at destination
North Pleasant Drive
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 147.2 miles from Granite City, IL, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 249.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 65 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.2 miles or 2h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Schaumburg, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Granite City, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Granite City, IL
This is one driving day of about 294.4 miles and 5h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Granite City, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 249.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 147.2 mi from Granite City, IL · 2h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
147 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 147.2 miles from Granite City, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 249.1 miles.
Arriving in Schaumburg, IL
The final approach into Schaumburg, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Schaumburg, IL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.03 one way
$92.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
103 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $50.53 | $101.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $56.65 | $113.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $65.00 | $130.00 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.35
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(19.2 mi)
$1.35
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.3 | 1 | $30.91 | $14.13 |
| Efficient EV | 73.6 | 0 | $25.76 | $11.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117.8 | 1 | $41.22 | $18.84 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Schaumburg, IL
Late night in Schaumburg on Saturday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bloomington, IL
147 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
24 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 33m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Granite City, IL to Schaumburg, IL covers 294.4 miles and takes about 5h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Veterans Memorial Tollway, I 270. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 147.2 miles from Granite City, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.03 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 294.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Granite City, IL and Schaumburg, IL, road signs point toward Springfield, Peoria and Southwest Suburbs.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 422 ft to 789 ft elevation with about 645 ft of total climbing.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Schaumburg, IL
More from Granite City, IL
More trips to Schaumburg, IL
Explore more options from Granite City, IL or browse trips ending in Schaumburg, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.