Centralia, IL Road Trips
With 10 routes heading out and 1 heading in, Centralia, 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 Centralia, IL head north, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
11
Longest Drive
291.8 mi
Palatine, IL
Quickest Drive
4h 45m
Joliet, IL
Plan Around Centralia, IL
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Centralia, IL is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Centralia, IL
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Centralia, IL
Centralia, IL to Palatine, IL
Centralia, IL to Schaumburg, IL
Centralia, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Centralia, IL to Elk Grove, IL
Centralia, IL to Rockford, IL
Centralia, IL to Naperville, IL
Centralia, IL to Berwyn, IL
Centralia, IL to Bolingbrook, IL
Centralia, IL to Lockport, IL
Centralia, IL to Joliet, IL
Driving from Centralia, IL
On average, trips departing from Centralia, IL run 272 miles with a drive time of roughly 5h 15m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 292 miles (5h 34m), while the shortest is just 247 miles.
Popular Destinations
Top road trip destinations from Centralia, IL are Palatine, IL (291.8 mi, 5h 34m), Schaumburg, IL (290.1 mi, 5h 33m), Des Plaines, IL (285.3 mi, 5h 24m), Elk Grove, IL (282.3 mi, 5h 24m), and Rockford, IL (278.7 mi, 5h 31m). 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 Centralia, 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 10 mapped routes leaving Centralia, IL and 1 routes heading into Centralia, IL, covering 11 total connections. Distances range from 247 to 292 miles.
The longest mapped route from Centralia, IL covers 292 miles and takes approximately 5h 34m. Shorter options start at just 247 miles.
The average route from Centralia, IL runs about 272 miles with a drive time of roughly 5h 15m. 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 Centralia, 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 Centralia, IL include Palatine, IL, Schaumburg, IL, Des Plaines, IL and Elk Grove, IL. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Centralia, IL by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
12,009
Median Income
$47,308
Median Home Value
$81,600
Median Age
40.0
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Centralia, IL at a Glance
Founded
1853
Elevation
1,755 ft
Area
9 mi²
Notable People from Centralia, IL
A sampling of people born in Centralia, IL.
Roland Burris
1937
American politician and attorney
James Brady
1940–2014
White House Press Secretary under Ronald Reagan (1940-2014)
David Blackwell
1919–2010
American mathematician (1919–2010)
Robert Detweiler
1930–2003
American rower (1930-2003)
Dwight Eddleman
1922–2001
American basketball player and high jumper (1922-2001)
Dick Garrett
1947
American basketball player
Gary Gaetti
1958
American professional baseball player, third baseman, coach
Mary Lee
1924–1996
1924-1996 American actress
Jean Madeira
1918–1972
singer (1918-1972)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Centralia, IL.
Centralia Elks Lodge
Centralia Commercial Historic District
historic district in Illinois, United States
City data from Wikidata (Q575126), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Centralia, IL
Centralia is a city in Southern Illinois.
1 Centralia Carillon. 8th largest carillon in the world, with 65 bells. Fairview Park. An old steam locomotive from the old Illinois Central Railroad is on display here. Foundation Park. 235 acre park with hiking trails, an ice skating pond, two fishing ponds and two disc golf courses.
1 Centralia House Restaurant, 111 N Oak St, ☏ +1 618 532-9754. This restaurant has been around since 1854.
Best Western Plus Centralia Hotel & Suites, 8145 Jolliff Bridge Rd, ☏ +1 618-918-2559.
U.S. 51 and IL 161 run through Centralia. IL 161 links the town to Interstate 57 to the east, while U.S. 51 links it to Interstate 64 to the south. Centralia is served daily by Amtrak via the Illini and Saluki services that run between Chicago and Carbondale. The station is also a flag stop for the City of New Orleans running between Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans. 1 Centralia railway station, 110 S Oak St. (updated Oct 2019)
Travel tips adapted from Centralia (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.
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