Trip from Quincy, IL to La Grange, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 38m

Distance

297.2 mi

478 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 25m ★

6 AM

5h 38m

8 AM

6h 5m

10 AM

5h 47m

12 PM

5h 45m

3 PM

5h 49m

5 PM

6h 3m

8 PM

5h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Quincy, IL

Wikimedia Commons

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States of America

La Grange, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Quincy, IL to La Grange, IL covers 297.2 miles and takes about 5h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 55, I 72, Gardner Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 170.5 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.46 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 49m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 38m highway drive covering 297.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and I 72. The longest continuous stretch is about 170.5 miles on I 55.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 170.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 72. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 104 / Broadway Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 297.2 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (IL 104 / Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 142.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | IL 104 / Broadway Street

Turn right onto IL 104 / Broadway Street

Navigation decision point

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | North 3rd Street

Turn left onto North 3rd Street

Navigation decision point

142.8 mi into trip | ~2h 43m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 North: Chicago

172.2 mi into trip | ~3h 14m in | I 55

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

292.9 mi into trip | ~5h 29m in | Joliet Road

Take the exit onto Joliet Road toward Joliet Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 276C Toward Joliet Road

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Quincy, IL to La Grange, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.

Peoria

172.2 mi in | ~3h 14m | via I 55

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 55	170.5 mi	3h 7m
I 72	106.9 mi	1h 55m
Gardner Expressway	11.3 mi	19m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway	2.8 mi	3m
Joliet Road	2 mi	3m
South Brainard Avenue	1 mi	2m
South La Grange Road	0.8 mi	1m
West Plainfield Road	0.6 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 55 — 170.5 mi, about 3h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Quincy, IL and La Grange, IL.

Start on this road

53 ft · 1 sec · this road

Turn right onto IL 104

381 ft · 35 sec · Broadway Street

Continue on IL 104

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Broadway Street

Turn left onto North 3rd Street

0.4 mi · 52 sec · North 3rd Street

Continue on IL 57

11 mi · 19 min · Gardner Expressway

Continue on East 1083rd Lane

0.1 mi · 11 sec · East 1083rd Lane

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Merge onto I 172; IL 110

2.8 mi · 3 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

Merge onto I 72; US 36

107 mi · 1 hr 55 min · I 72; US 36

Continue on I 55

20 mi · 21 min · I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

29 mi · 31 min · I 55

Toward I 55 North: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

121 mi · 2 hr 14 min · I 55

Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto Joliet Road

2.0 mi · 3 min · Joliet Road

Exit 276C Toward Joliet Road Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Turn left onto South Brainard Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Brainard Avenue

Turn right onto West Plainfield Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Plainfield Road

Turn left onto US 12; US 20; US 45

0.8 mi · 1 min · South La Grange Road

Arrive at destination

US 12; US 20; US 45

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 49m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.5 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 65 miles or 1h 19m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 148.6 miles or 2h 49m 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 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Grange, 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 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 55 for about 170.5 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 49m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IL

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

Jacksonville, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bloomington, IL

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 check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 170.5 miles.

Arriving in La Grange, IL

The final approach into La Grange, 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 La Grange, 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

$46.46 one way

$92.93 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 104 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$51.02	$102.03
premium	$4.89	$57.19	$114.39
diesel	$5.61	$65.62	$131.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

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, 2026-04-13.

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Quincy, IL

Late night in Quincy on Thursday

Local time

12:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Grange, IL

Late night in La Grange on Thursday

Local time

12:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Bloomington, 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

4 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 38m 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 La Grange, IL covers 297.2 miles and takes about 5h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 55, I 72, Gardner Expressway. 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 $46.46 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.