East Saint Louis, IL Road Trips
Sitting in the Midwest, East Saint Louis, IL is a local road trip base with 13 trip routes mapped and ready to explore. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 242 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from East Saint Louis, IL head north, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
13
Longest Drive
297.6 mi
Palatine, IL
Quickest Drive
19m
Belleville, IL
Plan Around East Saint Louis, IL
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if East Saint Louis, IL is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From East Saint Louis, IL
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from East Saint Louis, IL
East Saint Louis, IL to Palatine, IL
East Saint Louis, IL to Schaumburg, IL
East Saint Louis, IL to Chicago, IL
East Saint Louis, IL to Elgin, IL
East Saint Louis, IL to Cicero, IL
East Saint Louis, IL to Berwyn, IL
East Saint Louis, IL to Aurora, IL
East Saint Louis, IL to Bolingbrook, IL
East Saint Louis, IL to Joliet, IL
East Saint Louis, IL to Decatur, IL
East Saint Louis, IL to Belleville, IL
Driving from East Saint Louis, IL
The typical drive from East Saint Louis, IL covers about 242 miles and takes around 4h 34m. 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 298 miles (5h 39m), while the shortest is just 14 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from East Saint Louis, IL include Palatine, IL (297.6 mi, 5h 34m), Schaumburg, IL (296 mi, 5h 32m), Chicago, IL (290.8 mi, 5h 27m), Elgin, IL (287.9 mi, 5h 39m), and Cicero, IL (287.2 mi, 5h 21m). 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 242-mile trip from East Saint Louis, IL, budget about $36 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes mostly head north. Summer trips benefit from long daylight hours, while winter departures should start early to maximize visibility. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 11 mapped routes leaving East Saint Louis, IL and 2 routes heading into East Saint Louis, IL, covering 13 total connections. Distances range from 14 to 298 miles.
The longest mapped route from East Saint Louis, IL covers 298 miles and takes approximately 5h 39m. Shorter options start at just 14 miles.
The average route from East Saint Louis, IL runs about 242 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 34m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 242-mile trip from East Saint Louis, IL costs roughly $36 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from East Saint Louis, IL include Palatine, IL, Schaumburg, IL, Chicago, IL and Elgin, IL. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
East Saint Louis, IL at a Glance
Founded
1820
Area
14 mi²
Notable People from East Saint Louis, IL
A sampling of people born in East Saint Louis, IL.
Shelley Winters
1920–2006
American actress (1920–2006)
Jimmy Connors
1952
American tennis player (born 1952)
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
1962
American track and field athlete
Dick Durbin
1944
United States Senator from Illinois
Dawn Harper-Nelson
1984
American hurdler
Tom Jager
1964
American swimmer
Al Joyner
1960
Track and Field Triple Jumper, Hurdler, Coach Flo-Jo's husband
Ken Kwapis
1957
American film and television director
Erin Brown
1979
American actress
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in East Saint Louis, IL.
Eads Bridge
bridge spanning the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri
Spivey Building
Majestic Theatre
former movie theater in East St. Louis, Illinois, United States
Downtown East St. Louis Historic District
historic district in Illinois, United States
City data from Wikidata (Q577891), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to East Saint Louis, IL
East St. Louis, commonly abbreviated as "ESL", is a city in Southern Illinois directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. It is a sprawling city with about 18,000 people, down from about 82,000 in the 1950s. While it attracts a few visitors who come mainly for gambling, East St. Louis is definitely not your typical travel destination. In 2013, it was considered to be the most dangerous city in the contiguous United States, based on violent crime statistics. A visit to ESL could be considered a way of getting a first-hand glimpse of the challenges that poverty-stricken U.S. urban areas face today.
Katherine Dunham Museum, 1005 Pennsylvania Ave, ☏ +1 618-874-8560, [email protected]. As one of the most famous residents of ESL, the Katherine Dunham Museum is centered on the life of this famous dancer. The museum is home to many of her personal items collected from all over the world. Some of these items include African Diaspora, African artifacts, dance costumes, pictures, drawings, paintings, and Dunham's personal awards and accomplishments. Hours are on an appointment basis: contact Leverne Backstrom for details. 1 Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park, 185 W Trendley Ave. (updated Dec 2017) 2 Gateway Geyser. Apr-Oct: noon-12:15PM, 1PM-1:15PM. Near the Casino Queen on the Mississippi River is the Gateway Geyser. The fountain mimics the St. Louis Arch directly opposite, both reaching a height around 630 feet (190 m). The Gateway Geyser is the world's second tallest fountain after the King Fahd's Fountain in Saudi Arabia. (updated Dec 2017) Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center. Opened in 2000 by a 6-time Olympic medalist in track, Jackie Joyner-Kersee began this project to help her hometown and encourage participation in sports. (updated Dec 2017)
1 The Casino Queen, 200 S Front St (located on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River in East St. Louis). Daily 8AM-6AM. The Casino Queen is known for its "loose slots" and is a major attraction for this area. It features an array of games, a hotel, 4 restaurants, The Stage Bar, and a RV park. (updated Feb 2020)
The vast majority of travelers choose to sleep across the river in St. Louis, but there are some options in ESL and in Fairmont City. 1 Draftkings at Casino Queen, 200 South Front St, ☏ +1 618-874-5000, toll-free: +1-800-777-0777. Hotel at the Casino Queen, steps from the casino floor. 4
Four major interstates lead into East St. Louis. They are Interstate 70, Interstate 55, Interstate 255, and Interstate 64. Interstate 64 takes the most direct route into the city center. U.S. Route 40 connects East St. Louis to St. Louis, Missouri and runs through East St. Louis. U.S. Route 50 runs through ESL as well. Illinois Routes 3, 15, and 111 also enter and leave East St. Louis. The city is very accessible by road through many different routes. The Metrolink train travels into East St. Louis on the blue and red lines. The Red Line begins at Lambert Airport in St. Louis, Missouri, and ends in Shiloh, Illinois. The Blue Line begins in Shrewsbury, MO and ends in Fairview Heights, Illinois. Both of these lines run through downtown St. Louis and both stop at the same East St. Louis stations- which are named East Riverfront, 5th and Missouri, Emerson Park, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, and Washington Park. For more information, fares, and schedules visit the Metrolink page. The Amtrak Train does not directly station in East St. Louis, but makes many stops nearby. The closest stop is in St. Louis, Missouri, at the 16th Street stop, approximately 5 miles (8 km) away. Other stops are the Kirkwood Amtrak Station (about 18 mi (29 km) away) and Alton Amtrak Station (about 30 mi (48 km) away). Taxi cabs are available at the station. There are many airports near East St. Louis. The largest nearby airport is the 1 Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL IATA) approximately 16 mi (26 km) from East St. Louis. The Saint Louis Regional Airport (ALN IATA) in St.
The Metro St. Louis website contains information about public transport in ESL as well as in St. Louis. ESL is a sprawling town, and the risk of sore feet is just one of the reasons why you shouldn't explore it on foot without a plan (see the Stay Safe section).
While there are many friendly citizens anxious to preserve the community in East St. Louis, on the whole this is a very unsafe and dangerous area with high crime and drug rates. Visitors should avoid walking the streets at night. Make sure you are familiar with the area before arriving in East St. Louis, although there are areas that are secure. Do obtain clear and precise directions before driving around ESL, or use the security and reliability of mass transportation. The East St. Louis Park District and Illinois Southwest Tourism Bureau can assist with any questions.
Travel tips adapted from East St. Louis 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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