Elk Grove to Piasa is 267.5 miles and takes about 5h 14m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I-55, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. For the most part, you'll be on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. With a recommended single day for travel, this route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground without needing an overnight stay.
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
133.8 miles from Elk Grove, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,689 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,115
Quietest
2 AM
~152 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Elk Grove, IL and Piasa, IL.
1
Start on South Elmhurst Road
1.0 mi·1 min·South Elmhurst Road
2
Turn right onto Devon Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·Devon Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto IL 83
2.1 mi·3 min·Busse Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on IL 83
2.0 mi·3 min·Kingery Highway
5
Continue on IL 83
1.9 mi·2 min·Robert Kingery Highway
Toward IL 83 South: Kingery HighwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on IL 83
11 mi·17 min·Kingery Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 South: JolietUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 55
117 mi·2 hr 10 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
40 mi·42 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·57 sec
Toward IL 16: Gillespie, Litchfield
12
Turn straight onto IL 16
8.4 mi·12 min·County Road 1200 North
13
Turn right onto IL 16
8.0 mi·11 min·Broadway Street
14
Turn right onto IL 16
4.4 mi·6 min·8000N
15
Continue on IL 16
1.2 mi·1 min·East Railroad Street
16
Continue on IL 16
3.7 mi·5 min·8000N
17
Turn left onto Piasa Road
125 ft·5 sec·Piasa Road
18
Arrive at destination
Piasa Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider departing Elk Grove in the morning to ensure you have plenty of daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you can aim to stop once along the 267.5-mile route, perhaps around the halfway mark on I-55, to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $42, and plan your refueling accordingly. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is over 116 miles, so having snacks and water accessible is a good idea.
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 133.8 miles from Elk Grove, IL, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.9 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 59 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.8 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Piasa, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elk 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 Elk Grove, IL
This is one driving day of about 267.5 miles and 5h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Elk 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 116.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 201.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip|~1m in|Devon Avenue
Turn right onto Devon Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
19.3 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Joliet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Joliet
5
19.9 mi into trip|~32m in|I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
136.8 mi into trip|~2h 42m 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
5
201.6 mi into trip|~3h 52m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.50 one way
$79.01 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.61
$87.22
premium
$4.72
$49.67
$99.33
diesel
$4.80
$50.51
$101.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.3
0
$28.09
$12.84
Efficient EV
66.9
0
$23.41
$10.70
EV Truck/SUV
107
1
$37.45
$17.12
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Elk Grove, IL
Afternoon
in Elk Grove on Sunday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 to 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Piasa, IL
Afternoon
in Piasa on Sunday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
SW 6 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
85°F
Bloomington, IL
134 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
5 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 14m 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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 193.7
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 18.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 83% of this drive on highways, covering a substantial 116.9 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway alone. Expect the latter part of your drive to transition to surface roads as you approach your destination. Given the high highway share, be prepared for a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits in the initial 83% of your trip.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.9 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Devon Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 267.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 1 miles (Devon Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
768 ft557 ft
Total Climb
380 ft
Total Descent
451 ft
Highest Point
768 ft
~133.8 mi in
Elevation Range
211 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elk Grove, IL and Piasa, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Litchfield.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 14m. Total distance: 267.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.9 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 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 Piasa, 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 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Devon Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): 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 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Piasa, IL before the return drive.
