Buffalo Grove to Quincy is 321.4 miles and takes about 6h 8m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I-72, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major interstates, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. The route is efficient, designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal complication.
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
160.7 miles from Buffalo Grove, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 6m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo Grove, IL and Quincy, IL.
1
Start on Aptakisic Road
60 ft·4 sec·Aptakisic Road
2
Turn left onto South Buffalo Grove Road
2.1 mi·4 min·South Buffalo Grove Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto East Hintz Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Hintz Road
4
Turn left onto North Arlington Heights Road
1.0 mi·1 min·North Arlington Heights Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto Palatine Road
1.2 mi·1 min·Palatine Road
Use the right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward IL 53 South
7
Merge onto IL 53
3.2 mi·4 min·IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
7.0 mi·9 min·IL 53
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355
20 mi·25 min·I 355
Exit 7Toward I 355 South Tollway: JolietUse the slight left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 12AToward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward Joliet Road SouthUse the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 55
112 mi·2 hr 2 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 72; US 36
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·I 72; US 36
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·51 sec
Toward I 172 North: Quincy
17
Continue on I 172; IL 110
2.2 mi·2 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward IL 57: Marblehead, Quincy
19
Turn left onto IL 57
12 mi·20 min·IL 57
20
Turn left onto IL 57
0.4 mi·43 sec·IL 57
21
Turn right
71 ft·1 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, starting in the morning is your best bet to arrive with plenty of daylight left. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but planning one stop around the halfway point is advisable for a break. Watch for the transition from the Adlai Stevenson Expressway to I-72, as this is a significant portion of your drive. Given the estimated $50 fuel cost, ensure your tank is full before departing Buffalo Grove to minimize any mid-trip refueling concerns.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 160.7 miles from Buffalo Grove, IL, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.5 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 71 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.7 miles or 3h 6m 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 57m
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 Buffalo Grove, 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 Buffalo Grove, IL
This is one driving day of about 321.4 miles and 6h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Buffalo Grove, 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 Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 111.5 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.5 and 147.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
8.5 mi into trip|~14m in|IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
8
15.5 mi into trip|~23m in|I 355
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
8
35.6 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
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 12A
Toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
7
35.9 mi into trip|~48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Joliet Road South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Joliet Road South
8
147.9 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
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 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.25 one way
$100.49 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$55.17
$110.34
premium
$4.89
$61.85
$123.70
diesel
$5.61
$70.96
$141.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.4
1
$33.75
$15.43
Efficient EV
80.4
0
$28.12
$12.86
EV Truck/SUV
128.6
1
$45.00
$20.57
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Buffalo Grove, IL
Night
in Buffalo Grove on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Quincy, IL
Night
in Quincy on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bloomington, IL
161 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
9 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 210.6
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 33.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 98% of the 321.4 miles on major roads like the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I-72. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 111.5 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway before transitioning to I-72 and I-55. Expect a consistent cruising experience with minimal interaction with surface streets until the very end of your trip.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.5 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 72. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.5 miles in near IL 53.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 321.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.5 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.5 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buffalo Grove, IL and Quincy, IL, road signs point toward Saint Louis, Joliet Road South and Springfield.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 8m. Total distance: 321.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.5 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Quincy, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.5 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.5 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Quincy, IL before the return drive.
