Niles, IL to Du Quoin, IL is 331.4 miles and takes about 6h 18m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Illinois from its northern suburbs down to the southern part of the state. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on a major interstate, making it a good option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for a single day of travel; it's a manageable distance for most drivers.
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
165.7 miles from Niles, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
266.5 mi
4h 51m
Ken Gray Expressway
20 mi
21m
State Street
12.6 mi
18m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.8 mi
11m
Kennedy Expressway
8.1 mi
11m
Illinois Route 14
3.8 mi
5m
North Caldwell Avenue
2.9 mi
4m
South Washington Street
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 266.5 mi, about 4h 51m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,001 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,389
Quietest
2 AM
~168 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 99 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 Niles, IL and Du Quoin, IL.
1
Start on North Waukegan Road
14 ft·4 sec·North Waukegan Road
2
Turn right onto West Howard Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Howard Street
3
Turn right onto US 14
2.9 mi·4 min·North Caldwell Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 94 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 94
2.1 mi·2 min·Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.1 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Continue on I 90; I 94
2.4 mi·2 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
8.8 mi·11 min·Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 ExpressUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
201 mi·3 hr 40 min·I 57
Exit 63Toward I 57 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
20 mi·21 min·Ken Gray Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward IL 14: Christopher, Benton
13
Turn right onto IL 14
0.2 mi·25 sec·West Main Street
14
Continue on IL 14
3.8 mi·5 min·Illinois Route 14
15
Continue on IL 14
13 mi·18 min·State Street
16
Turn right onto US 51
2.7 mi·4 min·South Washington Street
17
Turn right onto East Main Street
32 ft·1 sec·East Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Du Quoin before evening. With only one day recommended, you can take your time with a single stop for fuel or a break. The majority of your travel will be on I 57, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge as services can be spread out on longer interstate stretches. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility if you encounter unexpected delays or decide to depart a bit later.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 165.7 miles from Niles, IL, or about 3h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 266.5 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 73 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.7 miles or 3h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Du Quoin, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Niles, 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 Niles, IL
This is one driving day of about 331.4 miles and 6h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Niles, 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 57 for about 266.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 226 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.5 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 94 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 East
5
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in|I 94 / Edens Expressway
Merge onto I 94 / Edens Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.4 mi into trip|~23m in|I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
8
25.2 mi into trip|~35m in|I 57
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 63
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
5
226 mi into trip|~4h 15m in|I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.38 one way
$102.76 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$56.34
$112.68
premium
$4.93
$64.30
$128.59
diesel
$5.60
$73.05
$146.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.4
1
$34.80
$15.91
Efficient EV
82.9
0
$29.00
$13.26
EV Truck/SUV
132.6
1
$46.40
$21.21
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Aug 23, 2026
Origin
Niles, IL
Late night
in Niles on Friday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
NW 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 22 at 12:07PM EDT until August 26 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 22 at 12:07PM EDT until August 28 at 10:30AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Du Quoin, IL
Late night
in Du Quoin on Friday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Clear then Patchy Fog
NNW 1 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 22 at 12:07PM EDT until August 26 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 22 at 12:07PM EDT until August 28 at 10:30AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis 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
3 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
6h 18m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 22.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 94% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on the interstate. The longest stretch without needing to exit is a significant 266.5 miles on I 57. You'll transition to surface roads, specifically Ken Gray Expressway and State Street, as you approach Du Quoin. Expect a lot of consistent cruising with frequent exits on the interstate portion.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 266.5 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 331.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 94 / Edens Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
773 ft451 ft
Total Climb
307 ft
Total Descent
481 ft
Highest Point
773 ft
~47.3 mi in
Elevation Range
322 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 Niles, IL to Du Quoin, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Benton along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 18m. Total distance: 331.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 18m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 266.5 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 42 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Du Quoin, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 42 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 94 / Edens Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Du Quoin, IL before the return drive.
