Origin
Melville, IL
Late night in Melville on Wednesday
Local time
3:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Melville, IL to Glen Carbon, IL
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
37m
Distance
26.4 mi
42 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glen Carbon, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Melville, IL to Glen Carbon, IL covers 26.4 miles and takes about 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lewis and Clark Boulevard, I 270, Great River Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7 miles on Lewis and Clark Boulevard. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.13 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
13.2 miles from Melville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Melville, IL to Glen Carbon, IL covers 26.4 miles and takes about 37m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lewis and Clark Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Clifton Terrace Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.4 miles (Clifton Terrace Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (IL 100 / Great River Road): Navigation decision point; at 17.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Clifton Terrace Road
Turn left onto Clifton Terrace Road
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
IL 100 / Great River Road
At end of road, turn left onto IL 100 / Great River Road
Navigation decision point
4
17.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward I 270 East: Effingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 270 East: Effingham
8
24 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward IL 157: Collinsville, Edwardsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 9
Toward IL 157: Collinsville, Edwardsville
8
24.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 157: Glen Carbon, Collinsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 157: Glen Carbon, Collinsville
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Melville, IL and Glen Carbon, IL, road signs point toward Edwardsville and Collinsville.
Edwardsville
24 mi in
|
~32m
Collinsville
24.4 mi in
|
~32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis and Clark Boulevard | 7 mi | 8m |
| I 270 | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Great River Road | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| River Heritage Parkway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Landmarks Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Clifton Terrace Road | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| South State Route 157 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Lewis and Clark Boulevard
— 7 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Melville, IL and Glen Carbon, IL.
1
Start on IL 3
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Delmar Avenue
2
Turn left onto Clifton Terrace Road
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton Terrace Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto IL 100
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Great River Road
4
Continue on IL 100
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Broadway
5
Turn right onto US 67
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Landmarks Boulevard
6
Continue on IL 143
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
River Heritage Parkway
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto IL 3
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Lewis and Clark Boulevard
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 270 East: Effingham
9
Merge onto I 270
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 270
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 9
Toward IL 157: Collinsville, Edwardsville
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
297 ft
·
6 sec
Toward IL 157: Glen Carbon, Collinsville
Use the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto IL 157
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South State Route 157
13
Turn left onto West Main Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 13.2 miles from Melville, IL, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7 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 26.4 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.2 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glen Carbon, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Melville, 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 Melville, IL
This is one driving day of about 26.4 miles and 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Melville, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Lewis and Clark Boulevard for about 7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.2 mi from Melville, IL · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 26.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.2 miles from Melville, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Glen Carbon, IL
The final approach into Glen Carbon, 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 Glen Carbon, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.13 one way
$8.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.53 | $9.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.08 | $10.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.83 | $11.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Glen Carbon, IL
Late night in Glen Carbon on Wednesday
Local time
3:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 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
37m 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 Melville, IL to Glen Carbon, IL covers 26.4 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lewis and Clark Boulevard, I 270, Great River Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.2 miles from Melville, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.13 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 26.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.4 miles (Clifton Terrace Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (IL 100 / Great River Road): Navigation decision point; at 17.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Between Melville, IL and Glen Carbon, IL, road signs point toward Edwardsville and Collinsville.
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