Metropolis, IL Road Trips
With 8 routes heading out and 0 heading in, Metropolis, IL works well as a modest departure point in the Midwest. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 374 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Metropolis, IL head north, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
8
Longest Drive
403.6 mi
Waukegan, IL
Quickest Drive
6h 45m
Cicero, IL
Plan Around Metropolis, IL
Continue From Metropolis, IL
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Metropolis, IL
Metropolis, IL to Waukegan, IL
Metropolis, IL to Arlington Heights, IL
Metropolis, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Metropolis, IL to Elk Grove, IL
Metropolis, IL to Naperville, IL
Metropolis, IL to Chicago, IL
Metropolis, IL to Berwyn, IL
Metropolis, IL to Cicero, IL
Driving from Metropolis, IL
The typical drive from Metropolis, IL covers about 374 miles and takes around 7h 4m. 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 404 miles (7h 40m), while the shortest is just 359 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Metropolis, IL include Waukegan, IL (403.6 mi, 7h 40m), Arlington Heights, IL (386.7 mi, 7h 16m), Des Plaines, IL (380 mi, 7h 7m), Elk Grove, IL (377 mi, 7h 7m), and Naperville, IL (364.3 mi, 6h 59m). 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 374-mile trip from Metropolis, IL, budget about $55 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. These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 8 mapped routes leaving Metropolis, IL and 0 routes heading into Metropolis, IL, covering 8 total connections. Distances range from 359 to 404 miles.
The longest mapped route from Metropolis, IL covers 404 miles and takes approximately 7h 40m. Shorter options start at just 359 miles.
The average route from Metropolis, IL runs about 374 miles with a drive time of roughly 7h 4m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 374-mile trip from Metropolis, IL costs roughly $55 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Metropolis, IL include Waukegan, IL, Arlington Heights, IL, Des Plaines, IL and Elk Grove, IL. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Metropolis, IL by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
5,898
Median Income
$51,548
Median Home Value
$93,700
Median Age
46.3
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Metropolis, IL at a Glance
Founded
1757
Elevation
308 ft
Area
6 mi²
Notable People from Metropolis, IL
A sampling of people born in Metropolis, IL.
Oscar Micheaux
1884–1951
American writer and director (1884-1951)
John Steele
1912–1969
Recipient of the Purple Heart medal
Annie Malone
1869–1957
American businesswoman (1869-1957)
Jack Smith
1924–2001
American racing driver (1924-2001)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Metropolis, IL.
Elijah P. Curtis House
historic house in Illinois, United States
City data from Wikidata (Q304036), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Metropolis, IL
Metropolis is a small city in Southern Illinois probably named out of wishful thinking which hasn't really been borne out. The town's current claim to fame is as the host for a floating riverboat casino run by the Harrah's casino chain of Reno, Nevada. The town has also capitalized on its name by erecting what is referred to on road signs as a Giant Statue of Superman of DC Comics fame. In fact, though the statue is called giant it's less than half as tall as the statue of Big John the grocer, which is found in front of the Big John's supermarket on the way into town. Big John's also hosts a small gaming casino room.
The thing to see is the Super Museum, which houses an impressive collection of Superman memorabilia from comics, films, and television.
The Americana Hollywood Museum is also located in Metropolis. It contains displays of items used in various movies, television shows, and live performances. John Wayne, Pamela Anderson, Houdini, Lost in Space, various monster movies, Finding Nemo, and many other displays are set up. 1 Fort Massac, 1308 E 5th St, ☏ +1 618-524-4712. A great historic location. It was built in 1757. This fort has been maintained since 1908 since it became a state park. Each year there is an encampment, a car show, and a run. (updated Nov 2020)
Fat Edd's Roadhouse, 323 Ferry St, ☏ +1 618-524-5525. Bar and grill known locally for large burgers and peel-and-eat shrimp. (updated Nov 2020)
Baymont Inn (formerly the Amerihost Inn), 203 E Front St - has a pool, hot tub, hot breakfast, and many other amenities. 1 Harrah's, 100 E Front St, ☏ +1 618-524-2628. (updated Nov 2020) Holiday Inn Express, 2179 E 5th St, ☏ +1 618-800-1111. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Indoor pool, breakfast, and WiFi included. (updated Dec 2021)
1 Metropolis Municipal Airport (FAA LID: M30), ☏ +1 618 524-9976. A small, public, paved air strip 2 miles north west of town. It can be accessed by small planes. it has no control towers, there is no landing fee but there is an overnight tie down fee. There are dusk-dawn lights only. The nearest airport with commercial flights is Barkley Regional Airport (PAH IATA), which serves the larger city of Paducah across the river in Kentucky. However, most locals prefer to fly out of either Lambert-St. Louis International Airport or Nashville International Airport, both of which are roughly a three-hour drive.
Travel tips adapted from Metropolis 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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