Traveling from Metropolis to York covers 170.2 miles of Illinois landscape, typically taking about 4 hours and 13 minutes to complete. Because this journey is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $26 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating through the Midwest, you will rely primarily on IL 1, Illinois Route 145, and US 45 to reach your destination. This route offers a practical connection between two points in the state, providing a steady pace for drivers who prefer a direct, highway-focused experience.
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
85.1 miles from Metropolis, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IL 1
57.6 mi
1h 25m
Illinois Route 145
43.5 mi
1h
United States Highway 45
19.7 mi
25m
1150E
10.1 mi
15m
County Road 1400E
9.7 mi
14m
North Cherry Street
8.9 mi
13m
1200E
8.2 mi
12m
County Road 1550 East
2.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
IL 1
— 57.6 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metropolis, IL and York, IL.
1
Start on West 5th Street
45 ft·8 sec·West 5th Street
2
Turn left onto US 45
0.5 mi·1 min·Ferry Street
3
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·East 12th Street
4
Turn left onto US 45
2.1 mi·3 min·United States Route 45
5
Turn left onto IL 145
43 mi·1 hr·Illinois Route 145
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 45; IL 34
1.5 mi·2 min·South Commercial Street
7
Continue on US 45
20 mi·25 min·United States Highway 45
8
Continue on IL 1
45 mi·1 hr 7 min·IL 1
9
Turn left onto IL 1; IL 15
0.6 mi·52 sec·North Walnut Street
10
Turn right onto IL 1
0.4 mi·38 sec·West 9th Street
11
Turn left onto IL 1
8.9 mi·13 min·North Cherry Street
12
Continue on IL 1
2.8 mi·4 min·County Road 1550 East
13
Continue on IL 1
10 mi·15 min·1150E
14
Continue on IL 1
1.3 mi·2 min·15th Street
15
Continue on IL 1
8.2 mi·12 min·1200E
16
Continue on IL 1
9.7 mi·14 min·County Road 1400E
17
Continue on IL 1
13 mi·18 min·IL 1
18
Turn right onto East 150th Road
1.9 mi·7 min·East 150th Road
19
Continue on West Broadway Street
0.2 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
20
Turn left onto North York Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·North York Street
21
Arrive at destination
North York Street
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since this route is easily manageable within a single day. With only one recommended stop planned, you have the flexibility to pace the 4-hour and 13-minute drive according to your own schedule and comfort level. Ensure you have your $26 fuel budget set aside before you pull out of Metropolis to avoid unnecessary stress during the trip. Because you will be spending the majority of your time on highways, stay alert for changes in speed limits as you navigate the transition points between IL 1, IL 145, and US 45. Taking advantage of that single planned stop will help you stay refreshed for the final stretch as you approach York.
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 85.1 miles from Metropolis, IL, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.6 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 37 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.1 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
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 Metropolis, 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 Metropolis, IL
This is one driving day of about 170.2 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Metropolis, 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 IL 1 for about 57.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 114 — 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|US 45 / Ferry Street
Turn left onto US 45 / Ferry Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|East 12th Street
Turn right onto East 12th Street
Navigation decision point
4
3.5 mi into trip|~7m in|IL 145 / Illinois Route 145
Turn left onto IL 145 / Illinois Route 145
Navigation decision point
4
47 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|US 45; IL 34 / South Commercial Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 45; IL 34 / South Commercial Street
Navigation decision point
4
114 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|IL 1 / West 9th Street
Turn right onto IL 1 / West 9th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.61 one way
$53.22 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.22
$58.43
premium
$4.89
$32.75
$65.51
diesel
$5.61
$37.58
$75.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.1
0
$17.87
$8.17
Efficient EV
42.6
0
$14.89
$6.81
EV Truck/SUV
68.1
0
$23.83
$10.89
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Metropolis, IL
Night
in Metropolis on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 3 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:21AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
York, IL
Night
in York on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 8 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:21AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
5 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
4h 13m 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?
Expect a drive defined by a highway-focused profile, with 72% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will find yourself behind the wheel for a longest uninterrupted stretch of 57.6 miles while traveling along IL 1, which helps maintain a consistent momentum throughout the journey. The experience transitions between these primary routes, offering a blend of road types that keep the drive feeling active rather than monotonous. You can anticipate a reliable, steady flow as you move through the Illinois countryside. The combination of IL 1, IL 145, and US 45 ensures you spend most of your time on well-maintained roads designed for efficient transit.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.6 mi on IL 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 1 and Illinois Route 145. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 45 / Ferry Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 13m drive. You will face about 10 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 (US 45 / Ferry Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (East 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (IL 145 / Illinois Route 145): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
524 ft370 ft
Total Climb
155 ft
Total Descent
160 ft
Highest Point
524 ft
~148.9 mi in
Elevation Range
154 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 170.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 57.6 miles on IL 1. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 45 / Ferry Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (East 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (IL 145 / Illinois Route 145): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at York, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
