Planning a trip from Alton, Illinois, to Quincy, Illinois? This 115.2-mile journey typically takes about 2 hours and 22 minutes, making it a perfectly manageable day trip. You'll navigate through the heart of the Midwest, staying within the same state for the entire drive. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $18, so it's an economical option for a quick getaway. This route is characterized by frequent turns and local road driving, so don't expect a straightforward highway cruise. It's a straightforward drive that's ideal for a single day of exploration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.5 miles from Alton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 72
55.8 mi
59m
Godfrey Road
29.5 mi
35m
Main Street
12.3 mi
13m
IL 57
12.2 mi
21m
United States Route 67
8.1 mi
9m
Martin Luther King Drive
3.2 mi
4m
South State Avenue
2.4 mi
2m
1440 E
2.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 72
— 55.8 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alton, IL and Quincy, IL.
1
Start on Alby Street
190 ft·10 sec·Alby Street
2
Turn right onto East Broadway
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Broadway
3
Turn right onto US 67
0.4 mi·36 sec·Piasa Street
4
Continue on US 67
3.2 mi·4 min·Martin Luther King Drive
5
Turn straight onto US 67; IL 111
2.6 mi·4 min·Godfrey Road
6
Take the ramp onto US 67
27 mi·31 min·Godfrey Road
Toward US 67 North: Jerseyville
7
Continue on US 67
8.1 mi·9 min·United States Route 67
8
Continue on US 67
1.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
9
Continue on US 67
2.4 mi·2 min·South State Avenue
10
Continue on US 67
1.4 mi·1 min·South State Street
11
Continue on US 67
2.3 mi·2 min·1440 E
12
Continue on US 67
12 mi·13 min·Main Street
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 72 West: Springfield
14
Merge onto I 72; US 36
56 mi·59 min·I 72; US 36
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·51 sec
Toward I 172 North: Quincy
16
Continue on I 172; IL 110
2.2 mi·2 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward IL 57: Marblehead, Quincy
18
Turn left onto IL 57
12 mi·20 min·IL 57
19
Turn left onto IL 57
0.4 mi·43 sec·IL 57
20
Turn right
71 ft·1 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 22-minute drive, starting your journey in the morning offers the most flexibility. Since there are no designated stops and the longest stretch isn't particularly long, you can decide on rest breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $18 and it's wise to refuel before you leave Alton or when you see a convenient station. Given the 'turn-heavy' nature of this 115.2-mile route, pay close attention to your GPS or turn-by-turn directions to avoid missing any key turns.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.5 miles from Alton, IL, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.5 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Quincy, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alton, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alton, IL
This is one driving day of about 133 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Alton, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 72 for about 55.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 120.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Broadway
Turn right onto East Broadway
Navigation decision point
3
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 67 / Piasa Street
Turn right onto US 67 / Piasa Street
Navigation decision point
4
61.2 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 72 West: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 72 West: Springfield
5
117.3 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 172 North: Quincy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 172 North: Quincy
5
120.3 mi into trip|~2h 17m in
Take the exit toward IL 57: Marblehead, Quincy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 57: Marblehead, Quincy
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.79 one way
$41.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.83
$45.66
premium
$4.89
$25.59
$51.19
diesel
$5.61
$29.36
$58.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.9
0
$13.96
$6.38
Efficient EV
33.3
0
$11.64
$5.32
EV Truck/SUV
53.2
0
$18.62
$8.51
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Alton, IL
Late night
in Alton on Tuesday
Local time
3:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 6 to 17 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 6:01AM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 5:49AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Quincy, IL
Late night
in Quincy on Tuesday
Local time
3:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 9 to 16 mph55% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 6:01AM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 5:49AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
68°F
Bedford, IL
67 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 39m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' as you make your way from Alton to Quincy. With a 0% highway share, this route keeps you on surface streets for the entirety of the 115.2 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the profile suggests you'll be making frequent adjustments. This means you'll be experiencing more of the local landscape and community feel rather than the typical interstate experience. Be prepared to navigate through towns and keep an eye on your turns as you progress on this less direct path.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.8 mi on I 72.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Broadway.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 39m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 67 / Piasa Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Alton is a charming river town in Illinois just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. Once a blue collar town of heavy manufacturing, Alton has transformed itself into a tourist destination and wedding and reception resort of the Midwest.
Top landmarks
•Alton National Cemetery — United States National Cemetery located in the city of Alton, in Madison County,...
•Alton Military Prison — prison located in Alton, Illinois
•Upper Alton Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
The longest stretch is about 55.8 miles on I 72. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 67 / Piasa Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Quincy, IL before heading back.
