Spanning 282.7 miles across the Midwest, this trip from Evergreen Park to Quincy takes roughly 4 hours and 58 minutes of actual drive time. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, it demands your full attention behind the wheel rather than offering a mindless highway cruise. You should budget approximately $43 for fuel to complete the journey. While it is certainly possible to tackle this in a single day, the duration makes it a full-day commitment. Planning for at least one stop is essential to maintain your focus and comfort throughout the drive. This path serves as a direct cross-state connection, moving you from the Chicago suburbs toward the Mississippi River region.
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
153.2 miles from Evergreen Park, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
157.8 mi
2h 50m
I 72
92.9 mi
1h 39m
I 80
25.3 mi
30m
IL 57
12.2 mi
21m
I 57
9.7 mi
13m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
2.2 mi
2m
South Western Avenue
2 mi
3m
West 95th Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 157.8 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evergreen Park, IL and Quincy, IL.
1
Start on US 12; US 20
1.0 mi·1 min·West 95th Street
2
Turn right onto South Western Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·South Western Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto West 111th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West 111th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on West Monterey Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West Monterey Avenue
5
Turn right onto South Marshfield Avenue
133 ft·2 sec·South Marshfield Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 57 South
7
Merge onto I 57
9.7 mi·13 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·45 sec
Exit 345BToward I 80 West: IowaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 80
25 mi·30 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 126AToward I 55 South: Saint Louis
11
Merge onto I 55
93 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 55
Use the right lane.
12
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.
13
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
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·51 sec
Toward I 172 North: Quincy
15
Continue on I 172; IL 110
2.2 mi·2 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward IL 57: Marblehead, Quincy
17
Turn left onto IL 57
12 mi·20 min·IL 57
18
Turn left onto IL 57
0.4 mi·43 sec·IL 57
19
Turn right
71 ft·1 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this nearly five-hour journey, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid peak local traffic and ensure you reach Quincy before dusk. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, prioritize at least one significant break to stretch your legs and reset your focus. Since you are relying on local roads, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge; filling up before leaving the more suburban areas of Evergreen Park is a smart move to avoid price fluctuations in smaller towns. If you find yourself tiring, remember that local routes offer more frequent opportunities for quick rest stops than restricted-access highways. Flexibility is your greatest advantage here, so adjust your pace based on the local conditions you encounter along the way.
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 153.2 miles from Evergreen Park, IL, or about 2h 56m 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 67 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.2 miles or 2h 56m 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 41m
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 Evergreen Park, 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 Evergreen Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 306.5 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Evergreen Park, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 197.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip|~1m in|South Western Avenue
Turn right onto South Western Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
3 mi into trip|~5m in|West 111th Street
Turn left onto West 111th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
14 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 345B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
8
133 mi into trip|~2h 34m 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
197.9 mi into trip|~3h 44m 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
$47.92 one way
$95.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$52.61
$105.22
premium
$4.89
$58.98
$117.97
diesel
$5.61
$67.67
$135.34
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: 107.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92
1
$32.18
$14.71
Efficient EV
76.6
0
$26.82
$12.26
EV Truck/SUV
122.6
1
$42.91
$19.62
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% 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
Evergreen Park, IL
Late night
in Evergreen Park on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Quincy, IL
Late night
in Quincy on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Bloomington, IL
153 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
20 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 49m 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 190.2
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?
Expect a far more hands-on experience than a typical interstate trek, as this route features zero highway miles. The road is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature, requiring you to navigate smaller thoroughfares rather than high-speed lanes. You will find that the personality of the drive remains consistent, favoring local road navigation over the monotony of long, straight stretches. Because the highway share is 0%, your pace will be dictated by local traffic and intersection frequency. Prepare for a more technical drive that keeps you engaged with the road surface and local surroundings for the entire 282.7-mile distance.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
9/10
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 1 miles in near South Western Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 306.5 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 1 miles (South Western Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (West 111th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Evergreen Park, IL to Quincy, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
The Village of Evergreen Park is a city in Illinois located on the southwestern border of the city of Chicago. It is the “small town” connected to the “big city.” Because of the location it is able to enjoy all the amenities of its “big city” neighbor while continuing to enjoy the wonderful spirit a small town has to offer.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 49m. Total distance: 306.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 49m 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 1 miles (South Western Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (West 111th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 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.
