Origin
Cairo, IL
Night in Cairo on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cairo, IL to McClure, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
30.5 mi
49 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cairo, IL
Wikimedia Commons
McClure, IL
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
Cairo, IL to McClure, IL is 30.5 miles and takes about 47m via Illinois Route 3, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short Midwest drive stays within Illinois, offering a straightforward journey between two points. It's a quick trip, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B without a lot of fuss. The estimated fuel cost of $5 makes it an economical choice for a quick errand or connecting drive. Given its brevity, you won't need extensive planning, but it's good to know what to expect on the road.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Route 3 | 17.5 mi | 26m |
| Sycamore Street | 7.1 mi | 12m |
| IL 3 | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Illinois State Route 3 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| County Highway 4 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Illinois Route 3
— 17.5 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cairo, IL and McClure, IL.
1
Start on US 51
308 ft
·
8 sec
·
Washington Avenue
2
Continue on US 51
7.1 mi
·
12 min
·
Sycamore Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on IL 3
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
IL 3
4
Turn left onto IL 3
18 mi
·
26 min
·
Illinois Route 3
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on IL 3; IL 146
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Illinois State Route 3
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto County Highway 4
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
County Highway 4
7
Arrive at destination
County Highway 4
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.2 miles from Cairo, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
2 of 22 decision points cluster between mile 10.9 and 30.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
IL 3 / Illinois Route 3
Turn left onto IL 3 / Illinois Route 3
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
30.2 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
County Highway 4
Turn right onto County Highway 4
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.77 one way
$9.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.24 | $10.47 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.87 | $11.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.73 | $13.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.67 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Destination
McClure, IL
Night in McClure on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Unity, IL
15 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
47m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 77% of the journey taking place on main roads like Illinois Route 3 and Sycamore Street. You'll experience a longest stretch of 17.5 miles entirely on Illinois Route 3, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. Expect a driving personality that leans towards efficiency rather than winding scenic byways. The road's character is defined by its main arteries, providing a direct path. It's a drive where the focus is on covering ground efficiently.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.5 mi on Illinois Route 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Illinois Route 3 and Sycamore Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 10.9 miles in near IL 3 / Illinois Route 3.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Cairo, IL to McClure, IL is easy. At 47m with 77% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.9 miles (IL 3 / Illinois Route 3): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.2 miles (County Highway 4): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 30.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.5 miles on Illinois Route 3. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.9 miles (IL 3 / Illinois Route 3): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.2 miles (County Highway 4): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at McClure, IL before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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