Origin
Highland, IL
Morning in Highland on Friday
Local time
11:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Highland, IL to Melville, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
42.8 mi
69 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Highland, IL
Eclipse Chasers
Melville, IL
Jonathan Cooper
Trip Overview
Highland, IL to Melville, IL is 42.8 miles and takes about 57 minutes via I-70, I-270, and IL-255, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip within the Midwest, connecting two points in Illinois. Given its short duration and highway focus, it's ideal for a quick transit or a day trip without needing an overnight stay. You'll be spending most of your time on major interstates, making it an efficient way to cover the distance.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 42.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is primarily a highway-focused experience, with 72% of the route utilizing major interstate roads. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 8.2 miles on I-70, offering a consistent pace. The journey predominantly involves fast-paced interstate driving, so expect smooth, direct travel. The character of the road remains largely consistent, characterized by efficient, high-speed transit between your starting and ending points.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 270. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near US Highway 40.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.8 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (US Highway 40): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14.1 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US Highway 40
Enter roundabout onto US Highway 40
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
14.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 West, I 55 North: Kansas City, Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 270 West, I 55 North: Kansas City, Chi...
5
21.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward IL 255 North: Alton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 7B
Toward IL 255 North: Alton
6
28.3 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward IL 143: Wood River, Edwardsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward IL 143: Wood River, Edwardsville
5
42.4 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
IL 3 / West Delmar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto IL 3 / West Delmar Avenue
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Highland, IL and Melville, IL, road signs point toward Chicago and Edwardsville.
Chicago
14.1 mi in
|
~19m
|
via I 270
Edwardsville
28.3 mi in
|
~36m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 8.2 mi | 8m |
| I 270 | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| IL 255 | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Great River Road | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| IL 143 | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| River Heritage Parkway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Madison Avenue | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Edwardsville Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 8.2 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland, IL and Melville, IL.
1
Start on this road
104 ft
·
2 sec
·
this road
2
Continue
123 ft
·
2 sec
3
Turn straight onto IL 160
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Poplar Street
4
Enter roundabout onto US Highway 40
274 ft
·
4 sec
·
US Highway 40
5
Continue on US Highway 40
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
US Highway 40
6
Continue on IL 143
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
IL 143
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
8
Merge onto I 70
8.2 mi
·
8 min
·
I 70
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
I 270
Toward I 270 West, I 55 North: Kansas City, Chicago
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 7B
Toward IL 255 North: Alton
11
Merge onto IL 255
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
IL 255
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 6
Toward IL 143: Wood River, Edwardsville
13
Turn straight onto IL 143
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Edwardsville Road
14
Continue on IL 143
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Avenue
15
Continue on IL 143
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
West Ferguson Avenue
16
Continue on IL 143
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
River Heritage Parkway
17
Continue on US 67
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Landmarks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto IL 100
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Broadway
19
Continue on IL 100
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Great River Road
20
Turn right onto Clifton Terrace Road
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton Terrace Road
21
At end of road, turn right onto IL 3
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Delmar Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
IL 3
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.4 mi from Highland, IL · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from Highland, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Melville, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Melville, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.69 one way
$13.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.35 | $14.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.24 | $16.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.45 | $18.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.99 | $2.74 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Melville, IL
Morning in Melville on Friday
Local time
11:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
57m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Highland, IL to Melville, IL covers 42.8 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, I 270, IL 255. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.4 miles from Highland, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.69 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.8 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (US Highway 40): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14.1 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Between Highland, IL and Melville, IL, road signs point toward Chicago and Edwardsville.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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