Origin
Quincy, IL
Morning in Quincy on Monday
Local time
6:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Quincy, IL to Crystal Lake, IL
Drive Time
5h 57m
Distance
297.2 mi
478 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 45m
★
6 AM
5h 58m
8 AM
6h 24m
10 AM
6h 7m
12 PM
6h 4m
3 PM
6h 8m
5 PM
6h 22m
8 PM
5h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Quincy, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Crystal Lake, IL
Mohan Nannapaneni
Trip Overview
The drive from Quincy, IL to Crystal Lake, IL covers 297.2 miles and takes about 5h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, IL 110, I 39 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 140.6 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.14 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
148.6 miles from Quincy, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 57m highway drive covering 297.2 miles, with most of the trip on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and IL 110. The longest continuous stretch is about 140.6 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 140.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and IL 110. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 120.2 miles in near IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 297.2 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 120.2 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.1 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 158.4 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
120.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m in
|
IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
5
152.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
|
IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway toward I 80 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
6
158.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
|
IL 110
Take the exit onto IL 110 toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4B
Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Fa...
6
237.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 78B
Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
6
262.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 3m in
|
US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway toward US 20 East: Belvedere
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 122A
Toward US 20 East: Belvedere
Towns Along This Route
Between Quincy, IL and Crystal Lake, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island and Rock Falls.
Rock Island
120.2 mi in
|
~2h 28m
|
via IL 110
Rock Falls
158.4 mi in
|
~3h 10m
|
via IL 110
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | 140.6 mi | 2h 40m |
| IL 110 | 78.8 mi | 1h 24m |
| I 39 | 24.6 mi | 26m |
| U.S. Grant Memorial Highway | 13.8 mi | 21m |
| Telegraph Street | 9 mi | 12m |
| North 4th Street | 6 mi | 10m |
| West Grant Highway | 5 mi | 7m |
| IL 176 | 4 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 140.6 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Quincy, IL and Crystal Lake, IL.
1
Start on the route
52 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto Broadway Street
381 ft
·
36 sec
·
Broadway Street
3
Continue on Broadway Street
397 ft
·
7 sec
·
Broadway Street
4
Merge right onto North 4th Street
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
North 4th Street
5
Turn right
512 ft
·
8 sec
6
Merge slight left
3.2 mi
·
4 min
7
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
8
Merge slight left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
54 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9
Take the exit slight right
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
10
Turn right
3.4 mi
·
6 min
11
Turn left onto North Johnson Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Johnson Street
12
Turn slight right onto West Calhoun Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Calhoun Street
13
Turn left onto North Lafayette Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Lafayette Street
14
Continue on East 1200th Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1200th Street
15
Continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
16
Continue on South Monmouth Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Monmouth Street
17
Continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
45 mi
·
52 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
18
Keep slight right to continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
32 mi
·
34 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
19
Keep slight left to continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
20
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
79 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
·
I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
21
Take the exit slight right toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
22
Merge slight left
22 mi
·
24 min
23
Merge slight left
2.2 mi
·
2 min
24
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East: Belvedere
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 20 East: Belvedere
25
Keep slight right to continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
14 mi
·
20 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
26
Continue on West Grant Highway
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
West Grant Highway
27
Turn left onto South State Street
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South State Street
28
Turn right onto Telegraph Street
9.0 mi
·
13 min
·
Telegraph Street
29
Turn right
0.8 mi
·
1 min
30
Turn left
4.0 mi
·
6 min
31
Turn right
213 ft
·
8 sec
32
Continue on North Virginia Street
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
North Virginia Street
33
Turn left onto West Crystal Lake Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Crystal Lake Avenue
34
Arrive at your destination
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 148.6 miles from Quincy, IL, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.6 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.6 miles or 2h 59m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Crystal Lake, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Quincy, 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 Quincy, IL
This is one driving day of about 297.2 miles and 5h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Quincy, 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 Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 140.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148.6 mi from Quincy, IL · 2h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 148.6 miles from Quincy, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Chicago-Kansas City Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 140.6 miles.
Arriving in Crystal Lake, IL
The final approach into Crystal Lake, 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 Crystal Lake, 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
$45.14 one way
$90.28 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $49.76 | $99.53 |
| premium | $4.80 | $56.11 | $112.21 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $66.03 | $132.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.2 | 1 | $31.21 | $14.27 |
| Efficient EV | 74.3 | 0 | $26.01 | $11.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.9 | 1 | $41.61 | $19.02 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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
Crystal Lake, IL
Morning in Crystal Lake on Monday
Local time
6:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
55°F
Peoria, IL
149 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
12 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 57m 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 Quincy, IL to Crystal Lake, IL covers 297.2 miles and takes about 5h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, IL 110, I 39. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 148.6 miles from Quincy, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.14 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 25 significant decision points across 297.2 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 120.2 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.1 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 158.4 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Quincy, IL and Crystal Lake, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island and Rock Falls.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Crystal Lake, IL
More trips to Crystal Lake, IL
Explore more options from Quincy, IL or browse trips ending in Crystal Lake, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Quincy, IL or Crystal Lake, IL on MapSof.net.