The drive from York, IL to Alton, IL covers 165.4 miles and takes about 3h 22m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70, East Angling Road, I 270 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 119.9 miles on I 70.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.86 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
82.7 miles from York, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 22m. Total distance: 165.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 22m highway drive covering 165.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and East Angling Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 119.9 miles on I 70.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 119.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and East Angling Road. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Broadway Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 165.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (IL 1): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 65.6 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Broadway Street
At end of road, turn right onto West Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.3 mi into trip|~9m in|IL 1
Turn sharp right onto IL 1
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
65.6 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|I 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
6
142.4 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 West, I 55 North: Kansas City, Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 270 West, I 55 North: Kansas City, Chi...
6
156.6 mi into trip|~3h 10m in
Take the exit toward IL 143: Wood River, Edwardsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward IL 143: Wood River, Edwardsville
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between York, IL and Alton, IL, road signs point toward Chicago and Edwardsville.
Chicago
142.4 mi in|~2h 53m|via I 270
Edwardsville
156.6 mi in|~3h 10m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
119.9 mi
2h 9m
East Angling Road
13.7 mi
24m
I 270
7.7 mi
8m
IL 255
5.8 mi
6m
River Heritage Parkway
4.1 mi
4m
IL 1
3.3 mi
4m
East 150th Road
1.9 mi
7m
South York Street
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 119.9 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between York, IL and Alton, IL.
1
Start on North York Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·North York Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto West Broadway Street
0.2 mi·56 sec·West Broadway Street
3
Continue on East 150th Road
1.9 mi·7 min·East 150th Road
4
Turn sharp right onto IL 1
3.3 mi·4 min·IL 1
5
Turn left onto East Angling Road
9.0 mi·15 min·East Angling Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto East Angling Road
4.8 mi·8 min·East Angling Road
7
Continue on South York Street
1.9 mi·3 min·South York Street
8
Continue on North Cleone Road
0.9 mi·1 min·North Cleone Road
9
Turn left
0.4 mi·46 sec
10
Merge onto I 70
43 mi·46 min·I 70
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
77 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 70
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
7.7 mi·8 min·I 270
Toward I 270 West, I 55 North: Kansas City, Chicago
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 7BToward IL 255 North: Alton
14
Merge onto IL 255
5.8 mi·6 min·IL 255
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 6Toward IL 143: Wood River, Edwardsville
16
Turn straight onto IL 143
1.6 mi·2 min·Edwardsville Road
17
Continue on IL 143
1.7 mi·2 min·Madison Avenue
18
Continue on IL 143
0.1 mi·15 sec·West Ferguson Avenue
19
Continue on IL 143
4.1 mi·4 min·River Heritage Parkway
20
Continue on US 67
0.9 mi·1 min·Landmarks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Turn slight right
194 ft·10 sec
22
Turn right onto West Broadway
491 ft·18 sec·West Broadway
23
Turn left onto Alby Street
190 ft·8 sec·Alby Street
24
Arrive at destination
Alby 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 82.7 miles from York, IL, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.9 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 36 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.7 miles or 1h 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 2h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alton, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving York, 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 York, IL
This is one driving day of about 165.4 miles and 3h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from York, 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 70 for about 119.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.7 mi from York, IL
· 1h 49m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.6
0
$17.37
$7.94
Efficient EV
41.4
0
$14.47
$6.62
EV Truck/SUV
66.2
0
$23.16
$10.59
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
York, IL
Morning
in York on Friday
Local time
7:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alton, IL
Morning
in Alton on Friday
Local time
7:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Highland, IL
83 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 22m 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 York, IL to Alton, IL covers 165.4 miles and takes about 3h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, East Angling Road, I 270. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82.7 miles from York, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.86 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 165.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (IL 1): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 65.6 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between York, IL and Alton, IL, road signs point toward Chicago and Edwardsville.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
