Malta to York is 264.7 miles and takes about 5h 25m via I 39 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on interstate highways, making it a practical option for a single-day journey. The route is about 74% highway, so most of your time will be spent cruising at higher speeds on limited-access roads. It's a good choice if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without extensive planning.
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
132.3 miles from Malta, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 39
98.5 mi
1h 45m
I 74
80.9 mi
1h 27m
South Main Street
30.4 mi
45m
Georgetown Road
29.6 mi
44m
IL 38
8 mi
11m
US 51
7.6 mi
8m
East 150th Road
1.9 mi
7m
North State Street
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 45m
Traffic on I-39
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~755 veh/hr typical
· worst 994
Quietest
1 AM
~66 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 100 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 Malta, IL and York, IL.
1
Start on Adams Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·Adams Street
2
Turn right onto CH 6
0.4 mi·1 min·2nd Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto IL 38
7.6 mi·11 min·IL 38
4
Continue on IL-38
0.4 mi·37 sec·IL-38
5
Continue on IL 38
0.3 mi·37 sec·IL 38
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·38 sec
7
Merge onto I 39; US 51
99 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 39; US 51
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51
7.6 mi·8 min·US 51
Toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74; US 51
81 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 74; US 51
Toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, DecaturUse the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 150, IL 1
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
12
Turn straight onto US 150; IL 1
14 mi·20 min·Georgetown Road
13
Continue on US 150; IL 1
1.9 mi·2 min·North State Street
14
Continue on US 150; IL 1
6.1 mi·9 min·Georgetown Road
15
Continue on US 150; IL 1
0.3 mi·28 sec·1575 E US 36
16
Continue on US 150; IL 1
10 mi·14 min·Georgetown Road
17
Continue on US 150; IL 1
1.4 mi·3 min·IL Route 1
18
Turn right onto US 150; IL 1
512 ft·8 sec·West Elliot Street
19
Turn left onto US 150; IL 1
1.7 mi·2 min·North Central Avenue
20
Continue on IL 1
0.1 mi·11 sec·Vandalia Way
21
Turn straight onto IL 1
30 mi·45 min·South Main Street
22
Turn sharp left onto East 150th Road
1.9 mi·7 min·East 150th Road
23
Continue on West Broadway Street
0.2 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
24
Turn left onto North York Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·North York Street
25
Arrive at destination
North York Street
Trip Plan
For this 5h 25m drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach York before sunset. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 98.5-mile segment on I 39, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $41 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting. Since the route is efficient and stays within Illinois, it's ideal for a single-day trip without needing to split the drive.
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 132.3 miles from Malta, IL, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 58 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.3 miles or 2h 27m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near York, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Malta, 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 Malta, IL
This is one driving day of about 264.7 miles and 5h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Malta, 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 I 39 for about 98.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Early stretch
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
$20 to $30
Oglesby, Illinois
Hours: 3–11 pm
+17792131436
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 196.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|IL 38
At end of road, turn left onto IL 38
Navigation decision point
6
107.8 mi into trip|~2h in|US 51
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51 toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champai...
8
115.4 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|I 74; US 51
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74; US 51 toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business N...
5
196.3 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward US 150, IL 1
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 150, IL 1
7
196.5 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.15 one way
$88.31 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$47.99
$95.98
premium
$5.26
$54.81
$109.61
diesel
$6.18
$64.39
$128.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.4
0
$27.79
$12.71
Efficient EV
66.2
0
$23.16
$10.59
EV Truck/SUV
105.9
1
$37.06
$16.94
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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Malta, IL
Morning
in Malta on Saturday
Local time
6:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Scattered Rain Showers
NW 15 to 25 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:12AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 1:28AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
York, IL
Morning
in York on Saturday
Local time
6:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 17 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:12AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 1:28AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
4 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 25m 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 mostly highway, with 74% of the 264.7 miles on interstates like I 39 and I 74. You'll encounter a long stretch of 98.5 miles on I 39, offering a good opportunity for steady cruising. The transition to surface roads, specifically South Main Street, will occur later in the trip. Given the highway-heavy profile, anticipate merging with traffic and a consistent flow of exits.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.5 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and I 74. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near IL 38.
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 264.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.5 miles (IL 38): Navigation decision point; at 107.8 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.4 miles (I 74; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
913 ft451 ft
Total Climb
152 ft
Total Descent
614 ft
Highest Point
913 ft
Elevation Range
462 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Malta, IL and York, IL, road signs point toward Champaign, Saint Louis and Decatur.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 25m. Total distance: 264.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.5 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (IL 38): Navigation decision point; at 107.8 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.4 miles (I 74; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at York, IL before the return drive.
