Quincy, IL to Antioch, IL is 319.9 miles and takes about 6h 22m via Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and I-39, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a straightforward drive that's largely on major highways, making it a good option if you want to cover ground efficiently. Given the duration, it's entirely feasible as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
159.9 miles from Quincy, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
140.6 mi
2h 40m
IL 110
78.8 mi
1h 24m
I 39
26.3 mi
28m
East Diggins Street
18.8 mi
26m
West Grove Street
12.4 mi
17m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
7.3 mi
7m
North 4th Street
6 mi
10m
West IL Route 173
5.6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 140.6 mi, about 2h 40m
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 Quincy, IL and Antioch, IL.
1
Start on this road
53 ft·1 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto IL 104
381 ft·35 sec·Broadway Street
3
Continue on IL 104
397 ft·6 sec·Broadway Street
4
Merge onto US 24
6.0 mi·10 min·North 4th Street
5
Turn right
510 ft·8 sec
6
Merge onto US 24
3.2 mi·4 min·US 24
7
Turn left
0.4 mi·55 sec
8
Merge onto IL 110; IL 336
54 mi·1 hr 2 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·55 sec
10
Turn right onto US 136
3.4 mi·6 min·US 136
11
Turn left onto US 136
0.1 mi·16 sec·North Johnson Street
12
Turn slight right onto US 136
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Calhoun Street
13
Turn left onto US 67
1.6 mi·2 min·North Lafayette Street
14
Continue on US 67
1.2 mi·1 min·East 1200th Street
15
Continue on US 67; IL 110
3.4 mi·4 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
16
Continue on US 67; IL 110
0.7 mi·1 min·South Monmouth Street
17
Continue on US 67; IL 110
45 mi·52 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
18
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110
32 mi·34 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
19
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110
6.3 mi·6 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
20
Take the exit onto IL 110
79 mi·1 hr 24 min·IL 110
Exit 4BToward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 78BToward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
22
Merge onto I 39; US 51
22 mi·24 min·I 39; US 51
23
Merge onto I 39; US 20; US 51
2.2 mi·2 min·I 39; US 20; US 51
24
Continue on I 39; US 51
1.7 mi·1 min·I 39; US 51
25
Merge onto I 39; I 90; US 51
7.3 mi·7 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward IL 173: West Lane Road
27
Turn right onto IL 173
1.3 mi·1 min·West Lane Road
28
Continue on IL 173
5.6 mi·7 min·State Route 173
29
Continue on IL 173
12 mi·17 min·West Grove Street
30
Turn left onto US 14; IL 173
0.5 mi·49 sec·South Division Street
31
Turn right onto IL 173
19 mi·26 min·East Diggins Street
32
Continue on IL 173
3.7 mi·5 min·Kenosha Road
33
Continue on IL 173
5.6 mi·8 min·West IL Route 173
34
Turn left onto Lake Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Lake Street
35
At end of road, turn right onto IL 83
6 ft·0 sec·Main Street
36
Arrive at destination
IL 83
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Quincy to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic closer to the Chicago area. The route is designed for a single day, so you won't need to plan for an overnight stop. Your only scheduled stop is recommended to break up the 140.6-mile stretch on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. Keep an eye on your fuel, budgeting around $50, especially as you get closer to urban areas where prices might fluctuate. The transition from highway to surface roads will be most noticeable as you get within 20-30 miles of Antioch.
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 159.9 miles from Quincy, IL, or about 3h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.6 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 70 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.9 miles or 3h 11m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Antioch, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Quincy, 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 Quincy, IL
This is one driving day of about 319.9 miles and 6h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Quincy, 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 140.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway reset
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
Hampton, Illinois
Hours: 10 am–1 pm
+13097553077
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 237.2 — 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|IL 104 / Broadway Street
Turn right onto IL 104 / Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
6
120.2 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
5
152.1 mi into trip|~3h 3m in|IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway toward I 80 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
6
158.4 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|IL 110
Take the exit onto IL 110 toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4B
Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Fa...
6
237.2 mi into trip|~4h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 78B
Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.19 one way
$106.37 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$57.93
$115.87
premium
$5.18
$65.28
$130.55
diesel
$5.35
$67.38
$134.76
Estimated Tolls: $0.51
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(7.3 mi)$0.51
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
$53
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96
1
$33.59
$15.36
Efficient EV
80
0
$27.99
$12.80
EV Truck/SUV
128
1
$44.79
$20.47
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Quincy, IL
Afternoon
in Quincy on Wednesday
Local time
3:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
NE 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:00PM CDT until June 2 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Antioch, IL
Afternoon
in Antioch on Wednesday
Local time
3:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:00PM CDT until June 2 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
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
10 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
6h 22m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 82% of the 319.9 miles spent on major roads like the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and I-39. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 140.6 miles on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The remaining portion will be on surface roads, which can mean more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you approach your destination in Antioch.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 140.6 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and IL 110. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 104 / Broadway Street.
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 23 significant decision points across 319.9 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: near the start (IL 104 / Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 120.2 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.1 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
979 ft568 ft
Total Climb
605 ft
Total Descent
386 ft
Highest Point
979 ft
~297 mi in
Elevation Range
411 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Quincy, IL and Antioch, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island and Rock Falls.
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 6h 22m. Total distance: 319.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 140.6 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.51 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams 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 12 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 Antioch, 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IL 104 / Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 120.2 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.1 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Antioch, IL before the return drive.
