Loves Park to Quincy is 266.9 miles and takes about 5h 16m via the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within Illinois, connecting two Midwestern communities. With 63% of the route on highways, expect a mostly efficient trip. This is a solid option for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for departure and arrival without feeling rushed. The drive is best suited for those prioritizing direct travel over extensive sightseeing.
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
133.5 miles from Loves Park, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
82.7 mi
1h 32m
IL 110
56.7 mi
1h 7m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38.9 mi
41m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
33.8 mi
36m
I 39
21 mi
22m
US 24
9.1 mi
13m
North Alpine Road
6.9 mi
13m
West Jackson Street
6.2 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 82.7 mi, about 1h 32m
Traffic on I-39
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 2 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,252 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,626
Quietest
midnight
~126 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 50 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loves Park, IL and Quincy, IL.
1
Start on IL 251
0.3 mi·36 sec·North 2nd Street
2
Turn left onto East Riverside Boulevard
1.5 mi·2 min·East Riverside Boulevard
3
Turn right onto North Alpine Road
6.9 mi·13 min·North Alpine Road
4
Turn left
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward South Alpine Road
5
Merge onto US 20
0.2 mi·13 sec·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
7
Merge onto I 39; US 51
21 mi·22 min·I 39; US 51
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·50 sec
Exit 97BToward I 88 West Toll: Moline, Rock Island
9
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
34 mi·36 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
10
Continue on I 88; IL 110
1.1 mi·1 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
11
Continue on I 88; IL 110
38 mi·40 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Exit 41
12
Continue on I 88; IL 92; IL 110
5.4 mi·5 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
13
Take the exit onto IL 110
7.1 mi·8 min·IL 110
Toward I 80: Peoria
14
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110
31 mi·33 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
15
Take the exit onto IL 110
50 mi·59 min·IL 110
Exit 46AToward US 34 West: Monmouth
16
Continue on US 67
1.2 mi·1 min·East 1200th Street
17
Continue on US 67
1.6 mi·2 min·North Lafayette Street
18
Turn right onto US 136
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Calhoun Street
19
Continue on US 136
398 ft·11 sec·North Johnson Street
20
Turn right onto US 136
6.2 mi·10 min·West Jackson Street
21
Continue on US 136
0.6 mi·50 sec·Macomb Street
22
Continue on US 136
0.6 mi·56 sec·East North Street
23
Continue on US 136
3.1 mi·4 min·East Campbell Street
24
Turn right onto US 136; IL 110; IL 336
46 mi·53 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
25
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 24: Mount Sterling, Keokuk
26
Turn right onto US 24
9.1 mi·13 min·US 24
27
Turn left onto Vermont Street
462 ft·25 sec·Vermont Street
28
Turn left onto US 24
343 ft·4 sec·North 4th Street
29
Turn right
71 ft·1 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour driving time, leaving Loves Park in the morning allows for a comfortable arrival in Quincy by mid-afternoon. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Consider fueling up before you leave or shortly after starting, as the longest stretch without a service area is over 80 miles. While 266.9 miles is manageable in one go, plan for a brief break around the halfway point to stretch your legs and stay alert. The $47 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer.
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 133.5 miles from Loves Park, IL, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.7 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 59 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.5 miles or 2h 32m 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 17m
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 Loves 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 Loves Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 266.9 miles and 5h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Loves 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 Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 82.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.7 and 266.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.7 mi into trip|~16m in
Turn left toward South Alpine Road
Navigation decision point
Toward South Alpine Road
6
30.9 mi into trip|~41m in
Take the exit toward I 88 West Toll: Moline, Rock Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 97B
Toward I 88 West Toll: Moline, Rock Island
5
148 mi into trip|~2h 47m in|IL 110
Take the exit onto IL 110 toward US 34 West: Monmouth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 46A
Toward US 34 West: Monmouth
5
257.2 mi into trip|~5h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 24: Mount Sterling, Keokuk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 24: Mount Sterling, Keokuk
5
266.9 mi into trip|~5h 16m in|US 24 / North 4th Street
Turn left onto US 24 / North 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.42 one way
$78.83 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.51
$87.03
premium
$4.72
$49.56
$99.11
diesel
$4.80
$50.40
$100.79
Estimated Tolls: $2.03
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(33.8 mi)$2.03
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.1
0
$28.02
$12.81
Efficient EV
66.7
0
$23.35
$10.68
EV Truck/SUV
106.8
1
$37.37
$17.08
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Loves Park, IL
Night
in Loves Park on Sunday
Local time
9:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Quincy, IL
Night
in Quincy on Sunday
Local time
9:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Clear
SW 6 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:11PM CDT until July 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
68°F
Burlington, IA
133 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
2 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 16m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 63% of the 266.9 miles on major expressways like the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. You'll experience a substantial stretch of 82.7 miles on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway where you can settle into a steady cruising pace. The route transitions to non-highway roads for the remaining portion, likely involving more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections as you approach your destination.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.7 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and IL 110. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.7 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 266.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 8.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 148 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
803 ft568 ft
Total Climb
270 ft
Total Descent
431 ft
Highest Point
803 ft
~133.5 mi in
Elevation Range
235 ft
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 Loves Park, IL to Quincy, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Island along the way.
Rock Island
30.9 mi in|~41m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Quincy is a small city of 40,000 in Adams County, Western Illinois. It is near the westernmost point in Illinois on the Mississippi River, and is home to some of the most impressive historic architecture in the region.
Top landmarks
•Downtown Quincy Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
•South Side German Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
•Quincy East End Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 16m. Total distance: 266.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.7 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.03 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas 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.
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. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 148 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 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.
