Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
24.7 mi
40 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glen Carbon, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Melville, IL
Jonathan Cooper
Glen Carbon, IL to Melville, IL is 24.7 miles and takes about 36m via IL 255, Great River Road, and River Heritage Parkway, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Illinois. It offers a straightforward journey with a mix of driving experiences, making it ideal for a quick excursion or an easy leg of a longer trip. Consider this route if you're looking for a convenient and efficient drive without extensive planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 255 | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Great River Road | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| River Heritage Parkway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Madison Avenue | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Edwardsville Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| I 270 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South State Route 157 | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Glen Carbon, IL and Melville, IL.
Start on South Main Street
Turn right onto IL 157
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Merge onto IL 255
Take the exit
Turn straight onto IL 143
Continue on IL 143
Continue on IL 143
Continue on IL 143
Continue on US 67
Turn left onto IL 100
Continue on IL 100
Turn right onto Clifton Terrace Road
At end of road, turn right onto IL 3
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 24.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto IL 157 / South State Route 157
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 270 West: Saint Charles
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward IL 255 North: Alton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward IL 143: Wood River, Edwardsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn right onto IL 3 / West Delmar Avenue
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$4.11 one way
$8.21 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $4.47 | $8.95 |
| premium | $5.18 | $5.04 | $10.08 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $5.20 | $10.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.59 | $1.19 |
| Efficient EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.46 | $1.58 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Glen Carbon on Wednesday
Local time
6:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Evening in Melville on Wednesday
Local time
6:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive features a mixed profile, with 49% of the journey on highways. You'll experience stretches on IL 255, including one segment that lasts 5.8 miles without interruption. The route transitions between these faster sections and roads like the Great River Road and River Heritage Parkway, suggesting a varied driving feel. Expect a blend of efficient travel on main roads and potentially more local, scenic driving as you navigate through different segments.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near IL 157 / South State Route 157.
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 24.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.1 miles (IL 157 / South State Route 157): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
228 ft
Total Descent
84 ft
Highest Point
609 ft
~24.7 mi in
Elevation Range
184 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Glen Carbon, IL to Melville, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Edwardsville along the way.
Edwardsville
Founded 1892
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 24.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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