Spanning 114.7 miles across the Illinois heartland, this trip between East Saint Louis and Decatur takes approximately 2 hours and 23 minutes. It is a straightforward, single-day excursion that fits easily into your schedule without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-55, I-70, and Jaycee Drive to complete the journey. With a projected fuel cost of about $17, it is an economical route for travelers moving through the Midwest. Because the entire drive remains within the same region, you can expect a consistent atmosphere throughout your time on the road.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.3 miles from East Saint Louis, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
44 mi
47m
Jaycee Drive
18.4 mi
22m
I 70
15.6 mi
18m
North Railroad Avenue
12.9 mi
15m
Sarpy Street
12.2 mi
21m
North 22nd Avenue
7.2 mi
10m
IL 105
1.4 mi
2m
West South Side Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 44 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Saint Louis, IL and Decatur, IL.
1
Start on North 10th Street
0.4 mi·53 sec·North 10th Street
2
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
362 ft·10 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
3
Turn right onto North 9th Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·North 9th Street
4
Enter roundabout onto North 9th Street
106 ft·2 sec·North 9th Street
5
Continue on North 9th Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·North 9th Street
6
Enter roundabout
224 ft·3 sec
Toward I 55 North, I 70 East
7
Continue
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 55 North, I 70 East
8
Merge onto I 70
16 mi·18 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
44 mi·47 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hillsboro
11
Keep slight right at fork
147 ft·2 sec
Toward IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hillsboro
12
Turn straight onto IL 48; IL 127
7.2 mi·10 min·North 22nd Avenue
13
Continue on IL 48
12 mi·21 min·Sarpy Street
14
Continue on IL 48
0.6 mi·51 sec·County Road 975 N
15
Continue on IL 48
18 mi·22 min·Jaycee Drive
16
Continue on IL 48
13 mi·15 min·North Railroad Avenue
17
Turn right onto IL 105
0.8 mi·1 min·West South Side Drive
18
Turn slight left onto IL 105
1.4 mi·2 min·IL 105
19
Turn left onto East Wood Street
507 ft·15 sec·East Wood Street
20
Arrive at destination
East Wood Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time to avoid the heaviest traffic. You won't need to plan for formal stops, as the duration is manageable without a structured break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving East Saint Louis so you can budget for the $17 expense comfortably. If you find yourself needing a rest, remember that the transition between I-55 and I-70 is a good point to evaluate your progress. Staying attentive during the segments on Jaycee Drive will ensure you navigate the final portion of the trip into Decatur smoothly.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.3 miles from East Saint Louis, IL, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.3 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decatur, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving East Saint Louis, 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 East Saint Louis, IL
This is one driving day of about 114.7 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from East Saint Louis, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 44 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 61.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|North 9th Street
Turn right onto North 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|North 9th Street
Enter roundabout onto North 9th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in
Enter roundabout toward I 55 North, I 70 East
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, I 70 East
6
16.7 mi into trip|~20m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springf...
6
61.1 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hillsboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 48, IL 127: Raymond, Taylorville, Hil...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.93 one way
$35.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.69
$39.38
premium
$4.89
$22.07
$44.15
diesel
$5.61
$25.32
$50.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.4
0
$12.04
$5.51
Efficient EV
28.7
0
$10.04
$4.59
EV Truck/SUV
45.9
0
$16.06
$7.34
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
East Saint Louis, IL
Morning
in East Saint Louis on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Decatur, IL
Morning
in Decatur on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Hillsboro, IL
57 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 23m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive that transitions between different road types as you head toward your destination. Roughly 53% of your journey will be spent on highways, providing a blend of interstate travel and local roadway navigation. You can settle in for a steady pace during the longest stretch of 44 miles on I-55. The route balances the efficiency of major interstates with the necessary shifts to local roads, keeping the experience varied behind the wheel. Prepare for a functional drive that prioritizes direct travel time over winding, scenic detours.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 around 0.5 miles in near North 9th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 23m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (North 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (North 9th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. 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 East Saint Louis, IL and Decatur, IL, road signs point toward Springfield, Kansas City, Taylorville and Hillsboro.
East St. Louis, commonly abbreviated as "ESL", is a city in Southern Illinois directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. It is a sprawling city with about 18,000 people, down from about 82,000 in the 1950s.
While it attracts a few visitors who come mainly for gambling, East St. Louis is definitely not your typical travel destination. In 2013, it was considered to be the most dangerous city in the contiguous United States, based on violent crime statistics. A visit to ESL could be considered a way of getting a first-hand glimpse of the challenges that poverty-stricken U.S. urban areas face today.
Top landmarks
•Eads Bridge — bridge spanning the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri
•Spivey Building
•Majestic Theatre — former movie theater in East St. Louis, Illinois, United States
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44 miles on I 55. 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: at 0.5 miles (North 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (North 9th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Decatur, IL before heading back.
