Jacksonville, IL Road Trips
Sitting in the Midwest, Jacksonville, IL is a local road trip base with 6 trip routes mapped and ready to explore. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 74-mile quick runs to 244-mile cross-state drives. Routes from Jacksonville, IL spread mainly east and north, covering a wide geographic range.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
6
Longest Drive
243.5 mi
Crystal Lake, IL
Quickest Drive
1h 27m
Decatur, IL
Plan Around Jacksonville, IL
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Jacksonville, IL is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Jacksonville, IL
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Jacksonville, IL
Driving from Jacksonville, IL
Expect an average of 181 miles and about 3h 34m behind the wheel when leaving Jacksonville, IL. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 244 miles (4h 58m), while the shortest is just 74 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Jacksonville, IL include Crystal Lake, IL (243.5 mi, 4h 58m), Chicago, IL (233.9 mi, 4h 27m), Joliet, IL (198.4 mi, 3h 40m), Bremen, IL (156.8 mi, 3h 16m), and Decatur, IL (74.4 mi, 1h 27m). 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 181-mile trip from Jacksonville, IL, budget about $27 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. 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 5 mapped routes leaving Jacksonville, IL and 1 routes heading into Jacksonville, IL, covering 6 total connections. Distances range from 74 to 244 miles.
The longest mapped route from Jacksonville, IL covers 244 miles and takes approximately 4h 58m. Shorter options start at just 74 miles.
The average route from Jacksonville, IL runs about 181 miles with a drive time of roughly 3h 34m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 181-mile trip from Jacksonville, IL costs roughly $27 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Jacksonville, IL include Crystal Lake, IL, Chicago, IL, Joliet, IL and Bremen, IL. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Jacksonville, IL by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
17,490
Median Income
$62,615
Median Home Value
$128,300
Median Age
37.6
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Jacksonville, IL at a Glance
Founded
1825
Elevation
610 ft
Area
4 mi²
Notable People from Jacksonville, IL
A sampling of people born in Jacksonville, IL.
Ken Norton
1943–2013
American boxer (1943-2013)
Paul Findley
1921–2019
American politician (1921-2019)
Cal Strong
1907–2001
American water polo player (1907–2001)
Marjorie Best
1903–1997
American Hollywood costume designer (1903-1997)
Ruth Bryan Owen
1885–1954
American politician (1885-1954)
Richard Yates
1860–1936
American politician, judge and lawyer (1860–1936); son of Richard Yates
J. Edward Day
1914–1996
American lawyer and politician (1914-1996)
Edmund J. James
1855–1925
American economist, professor, and university administrator (1855-1925)
Edgar Howard Sturtevant
1875–1952
American linguist (1875–1952)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Jacksonville, IL.
Jacksonville Historic District
historic district in Illinois, USA
Morgan County Courthouse
local government building in the United States
City data from Wikidata (Q577853), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Jacksonville, IL
Jacksonville is in western Illinois. It's a small town but packed with history, exuding an inexplicable charm captured in the eponymous song "Jacksonville" by Sufjan Stevens.
The town was named for Andrew Jackson, although some say it was actually named after a "colored preacher" named A.W. Jackson. There's plenty of unique history in this Illinois town. Illinois College is here, the first college in the state. The college, as well as the rest of the town, was a center of abolitionism and a major spot on the Underground Railroad. Other major schools are headquartered here as well, including MacMurray College, the Illinois School for the Deaf, the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, and Jacksonville Mental Health and Developmental Center. Ulysses S. Grant and his Illinois division of troops camped in the area during the Civil War. And both William Jennings Bryan and Stephen Douglas practiced law here.
Big Eli No. 17 in Community Park was built in 1907 by the Eli Bridge Company, which is still in business making wheels and other carnival rides (such as the Scrambler). It's small but neat in that very fact, and also that it's over 100 years old. Underground Railroad. Jacksonville was a major stop along the fabled Underground Railroad in the 19th century, and you can drive by or tour some of the homes that provided food, shelter, and assistance to the escaped slaves. Probably the best site is Woodlawn Farm, just east of town, which is being converted into a living history museum. There's also the Talcott Home (859 Grove St.), the Gillett Home (1005 Grove St.), and the Clay Home (1019 W. State St.). For tours contact the Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Illinois College is the first college in Illinois, established in 1829 in part by Harriet Beecher Stowe's brother Edward Beecher. It was considered a center of abolitionism and today is mostly a long cluster of pretty red-brick buildings and some more modern additions. The David Strawn Art Gallery, housed in a brick mansion, showcases both local and national artists, as well as permanent collections of antique dolls and Native American pottery.
Best Western Jacksonville Inn, 1709 W Morton Ave, ☏ +1 217 245-4500. Super 8 Motel, 1003 W. Morton Ave., ☏ +1 217 479-0303. Hampton Inn, 1725 W Morton Ave, ☏ +1 217 291-0415.
Jacksonville is about 40 miles west of Springfield and is best accessed by car from Highway 72.
Like any small town, car is the best way to get around.
Travel tips adapted from Jacksonville (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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