Rail Splitter Rest Area - Northbound
0 mi from route
Trip from Barr, IL to Elgin, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 18m
Distance
244.4 mi
393 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 5m
★
6 AM
5h 18m
8 AM
5h 45m
10 AM
5h 28m
12 PM
5h 25m
3 PM
5h 29m
5 PM
5h 44m
8 PM
5h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Barr, IL
Pho Tomass
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Barr, IL to Elgin, IL is 244.4 miles and takes about 5h 18m via I 55 and IL 47, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Illinois for its entirety. Expect a fairly straightforward drive with a significant portion on the interstate. It's a good option if you're looking for a single-day trip without too many complications. The route is manageable for one day, making it a convenient choice for many travelers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
122.2 miles from Barr, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 137.6 mi | 2h 28m |
| IL 47 | 32 mi | 38m |
| West Elm Street | 16.9 mi | 26m |
| Orchard Road | 11.2 mi | 18m |
| South Randall Road | 10.5 mi | 17m |
| Main Street | 8.4 mi | 14m |
| IL 31 | 6.1 mi | 11m |
| Palmyra Road | 5.2 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 137.6 mi, about 2h 28m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,843 veh/hr typical · worst 2,285
Quietest
2 AM
~153 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Barr, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on Conrady Road
57 ft
·
7 sec
·
Conrady Road
2
Turn left onto Barr Road
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Barr Road
3
Turn left onto Hettick Scottville Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Hettick Scottville Road
4
Turn right onto Palmyra Road
5.2 mi
·
12 min
·
Palmyra Road
5
Continue on State Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
State Street
6
Turn left onto IL 111
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
North Main Street
7
Continue on IL 111
8.4 mi
·
14 min
·
Main Street
8
Turn right onto IL 104
17 mi
·
26 min
·
West Elm Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
10
Merge onto I 55
45 mi
·
48 min
·
I 55
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
64 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 220
Toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto IL 47
32 mi
·
38 min
·
IL 47
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto Walker Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Walker Road
16
Turn left onto Ashley Road
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Ashley Road
17
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Schoolhouse Road
18
Turn left onto Minkler Road
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Minkler Road
19
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
126 ft
·
3 sec
·
Minkler Road
20
Continue on Minkler Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Minkler Road
21
Continue on Orchard Road
11 mi
·
18 min
·
Orchard Road
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left onto CR 34
10 mi
·
17 min
·
South Randall Road
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto CR 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Silver Glen Road
24
At end of road, turn left onto IL 31
6.1 mi
·
11 min
·
IL 31
25
Turn right onto East Chicago Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Chicago Street
26
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider departing in the morning to allow for flexibility. With a total duration of just over 5 hours, it's comfortably achievable in a single day, so you won't need to plan for an overnight stay. The longest stretch without a major road change is 137.6 miles on I 55, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps before or after this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $43, and it’s always wise to top off when convenient, especially before hitting the surface roads. Ensure you have enough charge on your phone for navigation as you move from the interstate onto IL 47 and local streets like West Elm Street.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 122.2 miles from Barr, IL, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.6 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 54 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.2 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elgin, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Barr, 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 Barr, IL
This is one driving day of about 244.4 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Barr, 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 55 for about 137.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 122.2 miles from Barr, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rail Splitter Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Dixie Trucker's Home
0.1 mi from route
Funks Grove Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Limestone Rest Area (Southbound)
0.1 mi from route
Limestone Rest Area (Northbound)
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.5 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.6 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 19.1 and 210.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
19.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
IL 104 / West Elm Street
Turn right onto IL 104 / West Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
81.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
|
I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
110.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m in
|
I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
8
174.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 35m in
Take the exit toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 220
Toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
5
210.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 20m in
|
IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.09 one way
$72.18 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $39.84 | $79.69 |
| premium | $4.72 | $45.38 | $90.76 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $46.15 | $92.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.3 | 0 | $25.66 | $11.73 |
| Efficient EV | 61.1 | 0 | $21.39 | $9.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.8 | 1 | $34.22 | $15.64 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Barr, IL
Late night in Barr on Monday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
W 8 to 12 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Elgin, IL
Late night in Elgin on Monday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 10 to 15 mph
28% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
85°F
Bloomington, IL
122 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
3 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
5h 18m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 50.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 72% highway, with the longest continuous stretch covering 137.6 miles on I 55. You'll spend most of your time on this interstate before transitioning to IL 47 and eventually surface roads like West Elm Street as you approach your destination. Given the high highway percentage, anticipate a good amount of consistent cruising, punctuated by exit and entry ramps. The shift from interstate to surface streets will likely bring more local traffic and varied speed limits.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and IL 47. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.1 miles in near IL 104 / West Elm Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 244.4 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.1 miles (IL 104 / West Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 81.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
816 ft
525 ft
Total Climb
441 ft
Total Descent
367 ft
Highest Point
816 ft
~122.2 mi in
Elevation Range
290 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Barr, IL and Elgin, IL, road signs point toward Peoria and Dwight.
Peoria
110.5 mi in
|
~2h 27m
|
via I 55
Dwight
174.1 mi in
|
~3h 35m
About the Cities
Arriving in Elgin, IL
Full guide →Founded 1854
Elgin is a city in Chicagoland known for its Victorian architecture and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.
Top landmarks
- • Elgin Tower Building — building in Illinois, United States
- • Elgin Downtown Commercial District
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 18m. Total distance: 244.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 137.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Elgin, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.1 miles (IL 104 / West Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 81.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Elgin, IL before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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