Origin
Glen Carbon, IL
Afternoon in Glen Carbon on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glen Carbon, IL to Melville, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 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
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
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
Trip Overview
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.
Main Roads
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
IL 255
— 5.8 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glen Carbon, IL and Melville, IL.
1
Start on South Main Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto IL 157
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South State Route 157
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 270 West: Saint Charles
4
Merge onto I 270
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 270
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 7B
Toward IL 255 North: Alton
6
Merge onto IL 255
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
IL 255
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 6
Toward IL 143: Wood River, Edwardsville
8
Turn straight onto IL 143
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Edwardsville Road
9
Continue on IL 143
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Avenue
10
Continue on IL 143
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
West Ferguson Avenue
11
Continue on IL 143
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
River Heritage Parkway
12
Continue on US 67
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Landmarks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto IL 100
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Broadway
14
Continue on IL 100
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Great River Road
15
Turn right onto Clifton Terrace Road
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton Terrace Road
16
At end of road, turn right onto IL 3
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Delmar Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
IL 3
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 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.
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
IL 157 / South State Route 157
Turn right onto IL 157 / South State Route 157
Navigation decision point
3
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 270 West: Saint Charles
Navigation decision point
Toward I 270 West: Saint Charles
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward IL 255 North: Alton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 7B
Toward IL 255 North: Alton
6
10.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward IL 143: Wood River, Edwardsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward IL 143: Wood River, Edwardsville
5
24.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
IL 3 / West Delmar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto IL 3 / West Delmar Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.86 one way
$7.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.24 | $8.48 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.75 | $9.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.45 | $10.91 |
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Melville, IL
Afternoon in Melville on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
19 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
36m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
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.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.8 mi on IL 255.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
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.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Glen Carbon, IL to Melville, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Edwardsville along the way.
Edwardsville
10.2 mi in
|
~14m
Who Is This Route For?
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.8 miles on IL 255. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Melville, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Melville, IL
Explore more options from Glen Carbon, IL or browse trips ending in Melville, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.