Drive Time
5h 2m
Distance
292.3 mi
470 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
Photo: NIKOLAI FOMIN
The drive from McHenry, IL to York, IL covers 292.3 miles and takes about 5h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Green Street, West Elm Street, Rand Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.40 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
146.2 miles from McHenry, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 2m drive with frequent turns across 292.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 2m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from McHenry, IL to York, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Green Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Elm Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Rand Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Belvidere Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IL 53 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 290 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 88 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tri-State Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between McHenry, IL and York, IL.
Start on the route
Turn left
Turn right onto North Green Street
Turn right onto West Elm Street
Continue on Rand Road
Continue on West Belvidere Road
Turn right
Continue straight
Continue straight
Continue straight
Continue straight
Take the ramp right toward IL 53 South
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Keep slight right to continue on I 290 East: Chicago
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
Continue on Mile-Long Bridge
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
Take the exit slight right toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
Keep slight left to continue on IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
Turn straight onto Cicero Avenue
Turn left onto 167th Street
Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward Market Street
Turn left
Turn left onto Market Street
Turn right onto East Marketview Drive
Turn left onto North Neil Street
Take the ramp left
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 150, IL 1
Keep slight right to continue on US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
Turn straight onto Georgetown Road
Continue on North State Street
Continue on Georgetown Road
Continue on 1575 E US 36
Continue on Georgetown Road
Continue on IL Route 1
Turn right onto West Elliot Street
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
Continue on Vandalia Way
Turn straight onto South Main Street
Turn sharp left onto East 150th Road
Continue on West Broadway Street
Turn left onto North York Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.2 miles or 2h 31m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near York, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving McHenry, 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 McHenry, IL
This is one driving day of about 292.3 miles and 5h 2m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 146.2 mi from McHenry, IL · 2h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 146.2 miles from McHenry, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into York, 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 York, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$43.40 one way
$86.79 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $48.94 | $97.89 |
| premium | $4.65 | $53.56 | $107.12 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $61.04 | $122.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.7 | 1 | $30.69 | $14.03 |
| Efficient EV | 73.1 | 0 | $25.58 | $11.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116.9 | 1 | $40.92 | $18.71 |
Gas CO2
102 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in McHenry on Saturday
Local time
2:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in York on Saturday
Local time
2:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
47°F
Joliet, IL
146 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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