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Trip from Crest Hill, IL to Quincy, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 11m

Distance

275.5 mi

443 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 58m ★
6 AM
5h 12m
8 AM
5h 39m
10 AM
5h 21m
12 PM
5h 18m
3 PM
5h 22m
5 PM
5h 37m
8 PM
5h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Will County, Illinois, United States

Crest Hill, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Quincy, IL, IL

Quincy, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 275.5-mile journey from Crest Hill, IL, to Quincy, IL, is designed for efficiency, covering the distance in about 5 hours and 11 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-55, I-72, and IL-57, this route is a highway-focused drive through the heart of the Midwest. With a projected fuel cost of around $43, it's a manageable trip for a single day. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 157.8 miles on I-55, so plan your breaks accordingly. This drive is well-suited as a one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.

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

137.8 miles from Crest Hill, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 157.8 mi 2h 50m
I 72 92.9 mi 1h 39m
IL 57 12.2 mi 21m
I 80 4.2 mi 4m
North Larkin Avenue 2.6 mi 5m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway 2.2 mi 2m
Theodore Street 1.4 mi 3m
Oakland Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 157.8 mi, about 2h 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crest Hill, IL and Quincy, IL.

1

Start on Oakland Avenue

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Oakland Avenue
2

At end of road, turn right onto IL 7

1.4 mi · 3 min · Theodore Street
3

Turn left onto IL 7

2.6 mi · 5 min · North Larkin Avenue
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward I 80 West: Moline-Rock Island Use the right lane.
5

Merge onto I 80

4.2 mi · 4 min · I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Exit 126A Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
7

Merge onto I 55

93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · I 55
Use the right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

65 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

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
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 51 sec
Toward I 172 North: Quincy
11

Continue on I 172; IL 110

2.2 mi · 2 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
12

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward IL 57: Marblehead, Quincy
13

Turn left onto IL 57

12 mi · 20 min · IL 57
14

Turn left onto IL 57

0.4 mi · 43 sec · IL 57
15

Turn right

71 ft · 1 sec
16

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 5-hour, 11-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Crest Hill to avoid potential midday traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $43, ensure your tank is full before you leave. The 157.8-mile stretch on I-55 is substantial, so plan for a stop around the halfway point for fuel and a quick stretch. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer stretches of highway.

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 137.8 miles from Crest Hill, IL, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 157.8 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 61 miles or 1h 11m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 137.8 miles or 2h 34m 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 9m

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 Crest Hill, 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 Crest Hill, IL

This is one driving day of about 275.5 miles and 5h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Crest Hill, 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 157.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

capital city of Illinois and county seat of Sangamon County

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Springfield, IL

138 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

Normal, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Springfield, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 137.8 miles from Crest Hill, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 157.8 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.

Best meal stop · around the midpoint

Cancun

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Sherman, Illinois

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset · 2h 58m in / 2h 14m to go 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12174963221

Visit website

Silver Spoon

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Joliet, Illinois

2.5 mi

State Street Restaurant & Italian Pizza

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lockport, Illinois

3 mi

Cancun

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Sherman, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12174963221

Visit website

Silver Spoon

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Joliet, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+18157256202

Visit website

State Street Restaurant & Italian Pizza

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Lockport, Illinois

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+18158389116

Visit website

Sushi Ya

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $20 to $30

Joliet, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+18157303838

Visit website

Subway

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour Inexpensiv

Wilmington, Illinois

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+18159262726

Visit website

Krekel's Custard & Hamburgers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Halfway reset 3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Grandview, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+12175254952

Visit website

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

Halfway reset 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour Inexpensiv

Springfield, Illinois

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+12175445144

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Quincy, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12172143700

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.4 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Bloomington, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Normal, Illinois

+13094549590

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Atlanta, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Rivian Waypoints

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887484261

Visit website

Rivian Adventure Network

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887484273

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 166.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | IL 7 / Theodore Street

At end of road, turn right onto IL 7 / Theodore Street

Navigation decision point

5
4.2 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the ramp toward I 80 West: Moline-Rock Island

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 80 West: Moline-Rock Island
5
4.5 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 80

Merge onto I 80

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
102.1 mi into trip | ~1h 56m 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
6
166.9 mi into trip | ~3h 6m in | I 72; US 36

Keep slight right at fork onto I 72; US 36 toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.07 one way

$86.14 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 96 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $47.29 $94.58
premium $4.89 $53.02 $106.03
diesel $5.61 $60.83 $121.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 96.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 82.6 1 $28.93 $13.22
Efficient EV 68.9 0 $24.11 $11.02
EV Truck/SUV 110.2 1 $38.57 $17.63

Gas CO2

96 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (67% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Crest Hill, IL

Late night in Crest Hill on Tuesday

Local time

3:49 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Quincy, IL

Late night in Quincy on Tuesday

Local time

3:49 AM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

71°F

Springfield, IL

138 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

2 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

5h 11m 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

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 161.5
View on nps.gov
Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 98% of the drive taking place on major roadways. The longest continuous segment is 157.8 miles along I-55, which means you'll have extended periods of consistent speed. While the profile is highway-focused, the transition onto I-72 and IL-57 will offer slight variations in the driving rhythm. This is a route built for covering ground efficiently, rather than for winding scenic byways.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 157.8 mi on I 55.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 72. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near IL 7 / Theodore Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 275.5 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 0.2 miles (IL 7 / Theodore Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Crest Hill, IL to Quincy, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.

Springfield

102.1 mi in | ~1h 56m | via I 55

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 11m. Total distance: 275.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 157.8 miles on I 55. 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 0.2 miles (IL 7 / Theodore Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 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.

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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