Cairo, IL Road Trips

With 3 routes heading out and 4 heading in, Cairo, IL works well as a modest departure point in the Midwest. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 272 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Cairo, IL head north, giving the route network a clear directional lean.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Routes

7

Longest Drive

411.7 mi

Waukegan, IL

Quickest Drive

47m

McClure, IL

Plan Around Cairo, IL

Popular Incoming Routes

Useful if Cairo, IL is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.

Niles, IL to Cairo, IL 385.6 mi · 7h 10m North Peoria, IL to Cairo, IL 294.4 mi · 5h 45m Peoria, IL to Cairo, IL 292.5 mi · 5h 41m Champaign, IL to Cairo, IL 240.7 mi · 4h 26m

Continue From Cairo, IL

Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.

Cairo, IL to Waukegan, IL 411.7 mi · 7h 46m Cairo, IL to Naperville, IL 372.4 mi · 7h 5m Cairo, IL to McClure, IL 30.5 mi · 47m

Trips from Cairo, IL

Cairo, IL to Waukegan, IL

411.7 mi 7h 46m

Cairo, IL to Naperville, IL

372.4 mi 7h 5m

Cairo, IL to McClure, IL

30.5 mi 47m

Driving from Cairo, IL

On average, trips departing from Cairo, IL run 272 miles with a drive time of roughly 5h 12m. There is a healthy spread of short hops, medium drives, and longer road trips to pick from. The longest mapped route runs 412 miles (7h 46m), while the shortest is just 31 miles.

Popular Destinations

Drivers leaving Cairo, IL most often head toward Waukegan, IL (411.7 mi, 7h 46m), Naperville, IL (372.4 mi, 7h 5m), and McClure, IL (30.5 mi, 47m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.

Planning & Costs

Regular gas in IL currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 272-mile trip from Cairo, IL, budget about $40 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.

Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring. Routes mostly head north. Summer trips benefit from long daylight hours, while winter departures should start early to maximize visibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 3 mapped routes leaving Cairo, IL and 4 routes heading into Cairo, IL, covering 7 total connections. Distances range from 31 to 412 miles.

The longest mapped route from Cairo, IL covers 412 miles and takes approximately 7h 46m. Shorter options start at just 31 miles.

The average route from Cairo, IL runs about 272 miles with a drive time of roughly 5h 12m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 272-mile trip from Cairo, IL costs roughly $40 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.

The most popular road trip destinations from Cairo, IL include Waukegan, IL, Naperville, IL and McClure, IL. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.

Cairo, IL by the Numbers

Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Population

1,699

Median Income

$35,493

Median Home Value

$28,200

Median Age

43.2

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.

Cairo, IL at a Glance

Founded

1818

Elevation

315 ft

Area

9 mi²

Notable People from Cairo, IL

A sampling of people born in Cairo, IL.

Caroline Smith

1906–1994

American diver (1906–1994)

Rex Ingram

1895–1969

American actor (1895/1903–1969)

Christopher Jackson

1975

American actor, singer, musician, and composer

Charles Hayes

1918–1997

American politician (1918-1997)

Tyrone Nesby

1976

basketball player

Ted Joans

1928–2003

American artist (1928-2003)

Estelle Yancey

1896–1986

American blues singer (1896–1986)

Hale Woodruff

1900–1980

African American artist (1900–1980)

Pop Hart

1868–1933

American artist (1868–1933)

Landmarks & Historic Sites

Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Cairo, IL.

Cairo Historic District

historic district in Cairo, Illinois, United States

National Register of Historic Places listed place

Old Custom House

custom house in Cairo, Illinois

National Register of Historic Places listed place

Traveler Guide to Cairo, IL

Cairo (pronounced KAY-ro) is in Illinois on a small strip of land in between Missouri and Kentucky as well as the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, made famous in Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. It was briefly a thriving community, but descended into industrial decline and racial violence for several decades, leaving it almost entirely abandoned.

The town was in former times a major port, but is now a semi-ghost town as a result of the decline of the river trade. During the American Civil War, it was used by U.S. Grant as a supply hub, but his military occupation of the town diverted much trade towards Chicago and Cairo could never quite get it back. Elements of the boom period still exist, with some beautiful manors from the late 19th century still standing in the residential section of town. While a small community still exists, it is mostly a site for urbex and some local history.

1 Cairo Custom House Museum, ☏ +1 618 734-9632. 14th and Washington Ave. An American Civil War and local history museum. M-F 10AM-noon, 1-3PM. 2 Fort Defiance State Park. This once neglected state park has come back into better days thanks to local efforts. It looks out over the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as the two powerful water flows attempt to combine. Safford Memorial Library, 1609 Washington Ave, ☏ +1 618 734-1840. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-noon. Home to Civil War documents, antiques, and paintings. 3 Magnolia Manor, 2700 Washington Ave, ☏ +1 618 734-0201. (updated Dec 2017)

Levee Footrace, ☏ +1 618 734-4400. A 5000- and 10,000-meter run held on the Mississippi River Levee is held the second Saturday of November. St Mary's Park. This city park once played host to Theodore Roosevelt, but now hosts the city's residents with recreation facilities.

Andy's Drive-In, ☏ +1 618 734-4361. Cairo Truck Stop, ☏ +1 618 734-9161. Chris's Cafe, ☏ +1 618 734-9880. Dairy Hut, ☏ +1 618 734-1266. Mack's Barbecue, ☏ +1 618 734-9847. Nonny's, ☏ +1 618 734-1883. 2203 Sycamore. Nu Diner, 300 Washington Ave, ☏ +1 618 734-2373.

Belvedere Motel, 3901 Sycamore St, ☏ +1 618 734-4020. Days Inn, ☏ +1 618 734-0215. I-57 and US 51. Garden Inn Motel, ☏ +1 618 734-9554. US 51. Relax Inn, 214 Washington Ave, ☏ +1 618 734-0285.

US 51. Head south on US Highway 51 from Interstate 57. 1 Cairo Regional Airport (CIR IATA) (4 mi (6.4 km) northwest of town on the other side of the interstate.).

Travel tips adapted from Cairo (Illinois) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.