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Trip from South Elgin, IL to Quincy, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 35m

Distance

280.5 mi

451 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 22m ★
6 AM
5h 36m
8 AM
6h 2m
10 AM
5h 45m
12 PM
5h 42m
3 PM
5h 46m
5 PM
6h 1m
8 PM
5h 28m

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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village in Kane County, Illinois, United States of America

South Elgin, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Quincy, IL, IL

Quincy, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from South Elgin, IL to Quincy, IL covers 280.5 miles and takes about 5h 35m 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, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 82.7 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.85 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

140.2 miles from South Elgin, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 35m. Total distance: 280.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (53%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from South Elgin, IL to Quincy, IL covers 280.5 miles and takes about 5h 35m, 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 36 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 82.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in near CR 5 / Silver Glen Road.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (CR 5 / Silver Glen Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 29.2 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

6
3.2 mi into trip | ~5m in | CR 5 / Silver Glen Road

Turn right onto CR 5 / Silver Glen Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
28.9 mi into trip | ~43m in

Take the ramp toward I 88 West Toll: Moline Rock Island

Navigation decision point

Toward I 88 West Toll: Moline Rock Island
5
29.2 mi into trip | ~44m in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
161.6 mi into trip | ~3h 6m in | IL 110

Take the exit onto IL 110 toward US 34 West: Monmouth

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 46A Toward US 34 West: Monmouth
5
270.8 mi into trip | ~5h 20m in

Take the exit toward US 24: Mount Sterling, Keokuk

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 24: Mount Sterling, Keokuk

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway 82.7 mi 1h 32m
IL 110 56.7 mi 1h 7m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 49.7 mi 53m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway 38.9 mi 41m
Lincoln Highway 16.6 mi 22m
US 24 9.1 mi 13m
West Jackson Street 6.2 mi 10m
Bolcum Road 3.2 mi 5m
Longest stretch: Chicago-Kansas City Expressway — 82.7 mi, about 1h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Elgin, IL and Quincy, IL.

1

Start on South Center Street

39 ft · 7 sec · South Center Street
2

Turn left onto East State Street

353 ft · 7 sec · East State Street
3

Continue on State Street Bridge

367 ft · 7 sec · State Street Bridge
4

Continue on West State Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · West State Street
5

Turn left onto IL 31

2.9 mi · 4 min · South La Fox Street
6

Turn right onto CR 5

0.9 mi · 1 min · Silver Glen Road
Use the right lane.
7

Turn left onto CR 34

0.9 mi · 1 min · Randall Road
8

Turn right onto Bolcum Road

3.2 mi · 5 min · Bolcum Road
9

Enter roundabout onto CR 2

178 ft · 3 sec · Burlington Road
10

Continue on CR 2

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Burlington Road
11

Continue on CR 81

2.3 mi · 4 min · LaFox Road
12

Turn right onto IL 38

17 mi · 22 min · Lincoln Highway
13

Turn left onto Peace Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · Peace Road
14

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 88 West Toll: Moline Rock Island
15

Merge onto I 88; IL 110

50 mi · 53 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 88; IL 110

1.1 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
17

Continue on I 88; IL 110

38 mi · 40 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Exit 41
18

Continue on I 88; IL 92; IL 110

5.4 mi · 5 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
19

Take the exit onto IL 110

7.1 mi · 8 min · IL 110
Toward I 80: Peoria
20

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110

31 mi · 33 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
21

Take the exit onto IL 110

50 mi · 59 min · IL 110
Exit 46A Toward US 34 West: Monmouth
22

Continue on US 67

1.2 mi · 1 min · East 1200th Street
23

Continue on US 67

1.6 mi · 2 min · North Lafayette Street
24

Turn right onto US 136

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Calhoun Street
25

Continue on US 136

398 ft · 11 sec · North Johnson Street
26

Turn right onto US 136

6.2 mi · 10 min · West Jackson Street
27

Continue on US 136

0.6 mi · 50 sec · Macomb Street
28

Continue on US 136

0.6 mi · 56 sec · East North Street
29

Continue on US 136

3.1 mi · 4 min · East Campbell Street
30

Turn right onto US 136; IL 110; IL 336

46 mi · 53 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
31

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward US 24: Mount Sterling, Keokuk
32

Turn right onto US 24

9.1 mi · 13 min · US 24
33

Turn left onto Vermont Street

462 ft · 25 sec · Vermont Street
34

Turn left onto US 24

343 ft · 4 sec · North 4th Street
35

Turn right

71 ft · 1 sec
36

Arrive at 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 140.2 miles from South Elgin, IL, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.7 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 62 miles or 1h 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 140.2 miles or 2h 43m 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 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Quincy, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving South Elgin, 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 South Elgin, IL

This is one driving day of about 280.5 miles and 5h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from South Elgin, 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 82.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 140.2 mi from South Elgin, IL · 2h 43m into the drive

Downtown Burgess, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Burgess, IL

140 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

Sterling, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dayton, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 140.2 miles from South Elgin, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Chicago-Kansas City Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.7 miles.

Arriving in Quincy, IL

The final approach into Quincy, 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 Quincy, IL.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 280.5

Quincy, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12172143700

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 280.5

Quincy, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 280.5

Quincy, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 280.5

Quincy, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.85 one way

$87.71 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 98 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $48.15 $96.30
premium $4.89 $53.98 $107.96
diesel $5.61 $61.93 $123.86

Estimated Tolls: $2.98

Reagan Memorial Tollway (49.7 mi) $2.98

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 98.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

4 DC fast chargers · Coverage: fair

Tesla Destination Charger

Quincy, Illinois

Tesla Destination

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Quincy, Illinois

Blink

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Quincy, Illinois

Blink

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Quincy, Illinois

Blink

1 DCFC

Blink: 3 Tesla Destination: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 84.1 1 $29.45 $13.46
Efficient EV 70.1 0 $24.54 $11.22
EV Truck/SUV 112.2 1 $39.27 $17.95

Gas CO2

98 kg

EV CO2

33 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

South Elgin, IL

Afternoon in South Elgin on Friday

Local time

1:13 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Quincy, IL

Afternoon in Quincy on Friday

Local time

1:13 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

51°F

Burgess, IL

140 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

25 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 35m 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 South Elgin, IL to Quincy, IL covers 280.5 miles and takes about 5h 35m 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, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 140.2 miles from South Elgin, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.85 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 straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (CR 5 / Silver Glen Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 29.2 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from South Elgin, IL to Quincy, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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