DeKalb, IL Road Trips
Drivers starting from DeKalb, IL have 5 mapped routes to choose from, making it a small but connected base in the Midwest. Most drives stay under 68 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Routes from DeKalb, IL spread mainly east and south, covering a wide geographic range.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
8
Longest Drive
329.5 mi
Bremen, IL
Quickest Drive
37m
Aurora, IL
Plan Around DeKalb, IL
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if DeKalb, IL is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From DeKalb, IL
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from DeKalb, IL
Driving from DeKalb, IL
On average, trips departing from DeKalb, IL run 68 miles with a drive time of roughly 1h 23m. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 166 miles (3h 10m), while the shortest is just 29 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving DeKalb, IL most often head toward Decatur, IL (165.7 mi, 3h 10m), Chicago, IL (65.3 mi, 1h 24m), Rockford, IL (43.3 mi, 57m), Naperville, IL (36.7 mi, 47m), and Aurora, IL (28.9 mi, 38m). 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 68-mile trip from DeKalb, IL, budget about $10 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 5 mapped routes leaving DeKalb, IL and 3 routes heading into DeKalb, IL, covering 8 total connections. Distances range from 29 to 166 miles.
The longest mapped route from DeKalb, IL covers 166 miles and takes approximately 3h 10m. Shorter options start at just 29 miles.
The average route from DeKalb, IL runs about 68 miles with a drive time of roughly 1h 23m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 68-mile trip from DeKalb, IL costs roughly $10 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from DeKalb, IL include Decatur, IL, Chicago, IL, Rockford, IL and Naperville, IL. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
DeKalb, IL by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
40,464
Median Income
$46,564
Median Home Value
$202,900
Median Age
25.4
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
DeKalb, IL at a Glance
Founded
1837
Elevation
879 ft
Area
15 mi²
Notable People from DeKalb, IL
A sampling of people born in DeKalb, IL.
Cindy Crawford
1966
American model
Richard Jenkins
1947
American actor
Barbara Hale
1922–2017
American actress (1922–2017)
W. Willard Wirtz
1912–2010
American Secretary of Labor (1912-2010)
A. J. Bramlett
1977
American basketball player
Brad Bradley
1980
American professional wrestler
T. J. Hart
1967
American pornographic actress
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in DeKalb, IL.
Egyptian Theatre, DeKalb
movie theater in DeKalb, Illinois
City data from Wikidata (Q580478), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to DeKalb, IL
DeKalb is a city in Illinois.
Northern Illinois University. Blackwell History-Education Museum, ☏ +1 815 753-1236. At Northern Illinois University. Ellwood House Museum and Park, 509 N 1st St, ☏ +1 815 756-4609. DeKalb County Forest Preserves.
River Heights Golf Course, ☏ +1 815 758-1550. Buena Vista Golf Course, ☏ +1 815 758-4812. Hopkins Park Pool and Community Center, 1403 Sycamore Rd, ☏ +1 815 758-6663. Annual DeKalb Corn Fest. Mid-August, on Route 38 (Lincoln Highway). (2008: 31st year, Friday, August 22 through Sunday, August 24). One of the few remaining free music festivals in Illinois with over 100,000 people from around the Midwest attending. Free admission and parking. This festival features a carnival complete with rides and games, food booths, live music, craft show, kiddie korner with large inflatables, and family entertainment. Friday night is carnival wristband nights for the kids with unlimited rides from 6-10pm. Festival areas feature booths, craft fest and a beer garden Annual DeKalb Kite Fest--mid September, at Northern Illinois University 2009-September 13th from 11-4pm This festival features many kites that are over 100ft. in length and boasts kites that are actually five stories high. Enjoy dancing kites, stunt kites, fighting kites, and other specialty kites that change on an annual basis. There are games, family entertainment, food, and wide open spaces. Festival features a candy-drop and kite making for kids.
Thai Pavilion, 131 E Lincoln Hwy (on Lincoln Hwy at First St), ☏ +1 815-756-6445. 11am-10pm. Delicious authentic Thai cuisine with abundant fresh vegetables: Spicy Basil, Mixed Vegetables, Spicy Eggplant, Massaman Curry, to name a few. Appetizers are exceptionally tasty: Chicken Satay, Crying Tiger, Fresh Lime Chicken, Shrimp in blankets, Thai Custard. $7-11. Happy Wok 1190 W Lincoln Hwy. +1 (815) 756-8828. M-F 11AM–9PM, Sa-Su 4PM-9PM. Delicious fresh Chinese food.
Red Roof Inn And Suites Dekalb, 1212 W Lincoln Highway, ☏ +1 815-410-4819.
Travel tips adapted from DeKalb 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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