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Trip from Hermon, IL to Wataga, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

38m

Distance

23.4 mi

38 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 35m ★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Hermon, IL, IL

Hermon, IL

Pho Tomass

Downtown Wataga, IL, IL

Wataga, IL

G star Media

Trip Overview

Hermon, IL to Wataga, IL is 23.4 miles and takes about 38 minutes via Knox Highway 8 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward hop between two points in the same region. It's a short trip that requires minimal planning, ideal for a quick errand, a visit to a nearby town, or a simple change of scenery. You won't be covering vast distances here, so you can expect a relaxed pace and plenty of time to reach your destination without feeling rushed.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Knox Highway 8 11.1 mi 19m
I 74 4.8 mi 5m
US 34 4 mi 5m
South Broad Street 0.9 mi 2m
Henderson Road 0.8 mi 1m
East Main Street 0.4 mi <1m
Knox Highway 9 0.3 mi <1m
Knox Highway 37 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Knox Highway 8 — 11.1 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hermon, IL and Wataga, IL.

1

Start on Knox Road 300N

77 ft · 5 sec · Knox Road 300N
2

Turn right onto Knox Highway 8

2.1 mi · 5 min · Knox Highway 8
3

Continue on Knox Highway 8

1.5 mi · 3 min · Knox Highway 8
4

Continue on Knox Highway 8

7.5 mi · 10 min · Knox Highway 8
5

Continue on South Broad Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · South Broad Street
6

Turn left onto US 150

0.4 mi · 34 sec · East Main Street
7

Turn right onto North Division Street

369 ft · 10 sec · North Division Street
8

Continue on CH 9

0.8 mi · 1 min · Henderson Road
9

Continue on CH 9

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Knox Highway 9
10

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 74 West: Galesburg
11

Merge onto I 74

4.8 mi · 5 min · I 74
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Exit 46B Toward US 34 East: Kewanee
13

Merge onto US 34

4.0 mi · 5 min · US 34
14

Turn right onto Knox Highway 37

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Knox Highway 37
15

At end of road, turn left onto North Depot Road

168 ft · 6 sec · North Depot Road
16

Turn right onto West Willard Street

240 ft · 16 sec · West Willard Street
17

Turn left onto North Main Street

115 ft · 9 sec · North Main Street
18

Turn left

93 ft · 6 sec
19

Arrive at destination

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 23.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Knox Highway 8

Turn right onto Knox Highway 8

Navigation decision point

6
13.6 mi into trip | ~25m in

Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Galesburg

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Toward I 74 West: Galesburg
5
18.6 mi into trip | ~30m in

Take the exit toward US 34 East: Kewanee

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 46B Toward US 34 East: Kewanee
5
23.2 mi into trip | ~38m in | North Depot Road

At end of road, turn left onto North Depot Road

Navigation decision point

5
23.3 mi into trip | ~38m in | North Main Street

Turn left onto North Main Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.46 one way

$6.91 round trip

$3.75/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.14 $3.81 $7.63
premium $4.72 $4.34 $8.69
diesel $4.80 $4.42 $8.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7 0 $2.46 $1.12
Efficient EV 5.9 0 $2.05 $0.94
EV Truck/SUV 9.4 0 $3.28 $1.50

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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.

Forecast as of Jul 12, 2026

Origin

Hermon, IL

Night in Hermon on Monday

Local time

9:50 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Clear

NNE 3 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 11 at 8:43PM CDT until July 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 11 at 8:43PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Destination

Wataga, IL

Night in Wataga on Monday

Local time

9:50 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Clear

NNE 6 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 11 at 8:43PM CDT until July 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 11 at 8:43PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

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

1 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

38m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the journey taking place on faster roads. You'll encounter stretches on Knox Highway 8, I 74, and US 34, offering a consistent driving experience for most of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 11.1 miles on Knox Highway 8. Expect a steady pace for the majority of the 38-minute drive, with the transitions between these main roads being your primary points of variation.

87% 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: 11.1 mi on Knox Highway 8.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Knox Highway 8 and I 74. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Knox Highway 8.

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 23.4 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (Knox Highway 8): Navigation decision point; at 13.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

838 ft 629 ft

Total Climb

231 ft

Total Descent

62 ft

Highest Point

838 ft

~21.7 mi in

Elevation Range

209 ft

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Judy’s Family Cafe

Cafe

Later in the drive, short detour

30min in 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

The Bean Hive

Cafe

Later in the drive, short detour

26min in 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hardee's

Fast_food

Around the midpoint, right off the route

22min in 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Knoxville, IL

Cuisine: burger

Visit website

McDonald's

Fast_food

Around the midpoint, right off the route

22min in 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Knoxville, IL

Cuisine: burger

Hours: Mo-Th 05:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 05:00-24:00; Su...

Visit website

Made-Rite

Fast_food

Later in the drive, right off the route

26min in 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Flavor Freeze

Fast_food

Later in the drive, right off the route

26min in 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Galesburg, IL

McDonald's

Fast_food

Later in the drive, short detour

26min in 1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Galesburg, IL

Cuisine: burger

Hours: Mo-Th 05:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 05:00-24:00; Su...

Visit website

Guacamole Grill

Restaurant

Later in the drive, short detour

30min in 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Galesburg, IL

Cuisine: mexican

Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-21:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00, Su...

Visit website

CB&Q Engine 3006

Attraction

Later in the drive, short detour

26min in 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Carl Sandburg Birthplace Historic Site

Attraction

Later in the drive, short detour

26min in 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Galesburg Historic District

Park

Later in the drive, short detour

30min in 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

James B. Stockdale Museum

Museum

Later in the drive, right off the route

26min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Galesburg, IL

Hours: Tu 09:00-15:00, Sa 09:00-15:00, by appoi...

CB&Q Engine 3006

Locomotive

Later in the drive, short detour

26min in 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Poet Carl Sandburg and Nellie the Goat

Artwork

Later in the drive, short detour

26min in 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Welcome to Downtown Galesburg

Artwork

Later in the drive, short detour

26min in 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Galesburg Historic District

District

Later in the drive, short detour

30min in 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Great House

Guest_house

Later in the drive, short detour

30min in 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Fahnestock House

Guest_house

Later in the drive, short detour

30min in 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Seacord House

Guest_house

Later in the drive, short detour

30min in 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Hermon, IL

Full guide →

Arriving in Wataga, IL

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 23.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

38m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 11.1 miles on Knox Highway 8. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.

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: near the start (Knox Highway 8): Navigation decision point; at 13.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 18.6 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 Wataga, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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