The drive from Quincy, IL to Effingham, IL covers 214.7 miles and takes about 4h 20m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 72, Interstate 70, IL 29 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 96.8 miles on I 72.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.57 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
107.3 miles from Quincy, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 214.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 20m highway drive covering 214.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 72 and Interstate 70. The longest continuous stretch is about 96.8 miles on I 72.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 72 is the longest continuous segment at about 96.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and Interstate 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 104 / Broadway Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 214.7 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: near the start (IL 104 / Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 112.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 104 / Broadway Street
Turn right onto IL 104 / Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|North 3rd Street
Turn left onto North 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
4
112.3 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward IL 29 South: Taylorville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IL 29 South: Taylorville
4
152.4 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|North Poplar Street
Turn right onto North Poplar Street
Navigation decision point
5
213.1 mi into trip|~4h 17m in
Take the exit toward Fayette Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 159
Toward Fayette Avenue
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 72
96.8 mi
1h 44m
Interstate 70
30.7 mi
33m
IL 29
22.8 mi
30m
300 East Road
15.1 mi
17m
Gardner Expressway
11.3 mi
19m
County Road 875 East
11.1 mi
12m
N 2000 East Road
5.4 mi
7m
West Park Street
5.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 72
— 96.8 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Quincy, IL and Effingham, IL.
1
Start on this road
53 ft·1 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto IL 104
381 ft·35 sec·Broadway Street
3
Continue on IL 104
0.2 mi·25 sec·Broadway Street
4
Turn left onto North 3rd Street
0.4 mi·52 sec·North 3rd Street
5
Continue on IL 57
11 mi·19 min·Gardner Expressway
6
Continue on East 1083rd Lane
0.1 mi·11 sec·East 1083rd Lane
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
8
Merge onto I 172; IL 110
2.8 mi·3 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9
Merge onto I 72; US 36
97 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 72; US 36
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Toward IL 29 South: Taylorville
11
Merge onto IL 29
1.2 mi·1 min·IL 29
12
Continue on IL 29
4.7 mi·7 min·IL 29
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on IL 29
1.3 mi·2 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on IL 29
16 mi·19 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on IL 29
0.4 mi·34 sec·North Webster Street
16
Turn left onto IL 29
5.3 mi·7 min·West Park Street
17
Continue on IL 29
5.1 mi·7 min·State Route 29
18
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·N 2000 East Road
19
Continue on IL 29
0.6 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
20
Turn right onto North Poplar Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Poplar Street
21
Turn straight onto US 51
0.6 mi·2 min·Fair Avenue
22
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 2400 E
23
Continue on US 51
15 mi·17 min·300 East Road
24
Continue on US 51
11 mi·12 min·County Road 875 East
25
Continue on US 51
0.3 mi·23 sec·North Kennedy Boulevard
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I-70 East: Effingham
27
Merge onto I 70
31 mi·33 min·Interstate 70
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 159Toward Fayette Avenue
29
Keep slight right at fork
205 ft·4 sec
30
Turn straight onto Fayette Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·Fayette Avenue
31
Turn left onto South 5th Street
19 ft·0 sec·South 5th Street
32
Arrive at destination
South 5th Street
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 107.3 miles from Quincy, IL, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.8 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 47 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.3 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Effingham, 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 214.7 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 I 72 for about 96.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 107.3 mi from Quincy, IL
· 2h 4m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.57 one way
$67.13 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.85
$73.71
premium
$4.89
$41.32
$82.63
diesel
$5.61
$47.40
$94.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.4
0
$22.54
$10.31
Efficient EV
53.7
0
$18.79
$8.59
EV Truck/SUV
85.9
1
$30.06
$13.74
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Quincy, IL
Morning
in Quincy on Saturday
Local time
11:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Effingham, IL
Morning
in Effingham on Saturday
Local time
11:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Grandview, IL
107 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
3 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
4h 20m 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 Effingham, IL covers 214.7 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 72, Interstate 70, IL 29. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 107.3 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 $33.57 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 214.7 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: near the start (IL 104 / Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 112.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Quincy, IL to Effingham, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
