Elk Grove, IL to Shiloh, IL is 290.1 miles and takes about 5h 38m via Devon Avenue, Busse Road, and Kingery Highway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region on a route that primarily utilizes surface roads. With a recommended single day of travel, this drive offers a straightforward path for those looking to get from one point to another without extensive highway time. Consider this route if you prefer a more local driving experience and want to keep your fuel costs predictable.
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
145.1 miles from Elk Grove, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
139 mi
2h 29m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
116.9 mi
2h 10m
Kingery Highway
13.3 mi
21m
Scott Troy Road
5.3 mi
9m
Troy Ofallon Road
4.2 mi
7m
Busse Road
2.1 mi
3m
Robert Kingery Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Edwardsville Road
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 139 mi, about 2h 29m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,681 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,233
Quietest
2 AM
~156 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Shiloh, 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
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward IL 162: Troy
12
Keep slight left at fork
461 ft·13 sec
13
Turn straight onto IL 162
1.6 mi·2 min·Edwardsville Road
14
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
15
Continue on Troy Ofallon Road
4.2 mi·7 min·Troy Ofallon Road
16
Continue on Scott Troy Road
5.3 mi·9 min·Scott Troy Road
17
Turn right onto Highway 50
0.4 mi·48 sec·Highway 50
18
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.6 mi·2 min·North Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 38-minute drive time and the fact that it's entirely on surface roads, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential evening congestion. Since this is a single-day trip, plan for one stop to stretch your legs and grab a snack, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move through less populated areas, and budget around $45 for gas. A good tip for this route is to use a GPS that prioritizes surface streets, as it will be more accurate in predicting your travel time and navigating the numerous turns.
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 145.1 miles from Elk Grove, IL, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139 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 64 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.1 miles or 2h 51m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shiloh, 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 290.1 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 I 55 for about 139 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 12
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
7
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. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.39 one way
$96.78 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$52.80
$105.60
premium
$5.25
$60.00
$119.99
diesel
$6.28
$71.68
$143.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87
1
$30.46
$13.92
Efficient EV
72.5
0
$25.38
$11.60
EV Truck/SUV
116
1
$40.61
$18.57
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Elk Grove, IL
Late night
in Elk Grove on Thursday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Shiloh, IL
Late night
in Shiloh on Thursday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
S 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
64°F
Bloomington, IL
145 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 38m 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
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 200.1
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely surface roads, with a 0% highway share. You'll spend the entire 290.1 miles navigating local streets and arterial roads. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type or exit density is not specified, but expect a consistent pace as you move through various towns and neighborhoods. Be prepared for frequent intersections and potential traffic lights as you progress.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Devon Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
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 290.1 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 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
793 ft567 ft
Total Climb
416 ft
Total Descent
417 ft
Highest Point
793 ft
~124.3 mi in
Elevation Range
226 ft
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 Elk Grove, IL to Shiloh, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 290.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 35 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 Shiloh, 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 35 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 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Shiloh, IL before the return drive.
