Origin
Jacksonville, IL
Late night in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jacksonville, IL to Decatur, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
74.4 mi
120 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jacksonville, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Decatur, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Jacksonville to Decatur, this 74.4-mile trip is an efficient trek through the Illinois Midwest. With a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes, you can easily complete this journey as a simple day trip without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend about $11 on fuel for the direct run, which relies heavily on I-72 and US-36. Because the route is straightforward and relatively short, it serves as an excellent option for travelers looking to move quickly between these two regional hubs. You will find that the lack of required stops makes this a highly predictable drive for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 72 | 63.5 mi | 1h 9m |
| US 36 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| East Morton Avenue | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Old Route 36 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 72 Business | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Central Park Plaza | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 72
— 63.5 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, IL and Decatur, IL.
1
Start on South Central Park Plaza
159 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Central Park Plaza
2
Turn left onto South Mauvaisterre Street
378 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Mauvaisterre Street
3
Turn left onto North Central Park Plaza
383 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Central Park Plaza
4
Turn left onto North Sandy Street
377 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Sandy Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto South Central Park Plaza
189 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Central Park Plaza
6
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
7
Turn left onto I 72 Bus; IL 104
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Morton Avenue
8
Continue on I 72 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Route 36
9
Turn left onto I 72 Business
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 72 Business
10
Merge onto I 72; US 36
33 mi
·
36 min
·
I 72; US 36
11
Take the exit onto I 72; US 36
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 72; US 36
Toward I 72 East, US 36 East: Decatur
12
Take the exit onto US 36
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 36
Exit 133
Toward US 36 East, US 51 South: Decatur, Pana
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US 36
Toward US 36 East: Decatur
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto US 51 Business
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
North Main Street
15
Turn left onto East Wood Street
298 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Wood Street
16
Arrive at destination
East Wood Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.2 miles from Jacksonville, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 72 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 68.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Mauvaisterre Street
Turn left onto South Mauvaisterre Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Central Park Plaza
At end of road, turn left onto South Central Park Plaza
Navigation decision point
5
38.2 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 72; US 36
Take the exit onto I 72; US 36 toward I 72 East, US 36 East: Decatur
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 72 East, US 36 East: Decatur
6
68.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
US 36
Take the exit onto US 36 toward US 36 East, US 51 South: Decatur, Pana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 133
Toward US 36 East, US 51 South: Decatur, Pana
7
68.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
US 36
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36 toward US 36 East: Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 36 East: Decatur
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.63 one way
$23.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.77 | $25.54 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.32 | $28.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.43 | $32.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.42 | $4.76 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Decatur, IL
Late night in Decatur on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Grandview, IL
37 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 27m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 95% of this route is spent on high-speed roads. The primary leg of the journey involves a 63.5-mile stretch along I-72, which dominates the transit time and keeps the pace brisk. You will begin by transitioning onto East Morton Avenue before merging onto the interstate for the bulk of the miles. While the drive is efficient, be prepared for a consistent, interstate-heavy atmosphere that favors speed over variety. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B with minimal technical maneuvering.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.5 mi on I 72.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and US 36. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Mauvaisterre Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 27m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Mauvaisterre Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Central Park Plaza): Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles (I 72; US 36): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Jacksonville, IL to Decatur, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Pana along the way.
Pana
68.2 mi in
|
~1h 17m
|
via US 36
About the Cities
Starting in Jacksonville, IL
Full guide →Founded 1825
Jacksonville is in western Illinois. It's a small town but packed with history, exuding an inexplicable charm captured in the eponymous song "Jacksonville" by Sufjan Stevens.
Top landmarks
- • Jacksonville Historic District — historic district in Illinois, USA
- • Morgan County Courthouse — local government building in the United States
Arriving in Decatur, IL
Full guide →Founded 1823
Decatur is a city in Macon county, Illinois. There are many examples of Frank Lloyd Wright's influence on the Prairie Style Architecture in Decatur.
Top landmarks
- • Decatur Downtown Historic District — historic district in Decatur, Illinois
- • Decatur Historic District — historic district in Decatur, Illinois
- • Wabash Railroad Station and Railway Express Agency — railway station in Decatur, Illinois, United States
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 1h 27m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.5 miles on I 72. 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: near the start (South Mauvaisterre Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Central Park Plaza): Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles (I 72; US 36): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Decatur, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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