Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Quincy, IL to Herrin, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 4m
Distance
253.2 mi
407 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 51m
★
6 AM
5h 5m
8 AM
5h 32m
10 AM
5h 14m
12 PM
5h 12m
3 PM
5h 16m
5 PM
5h 31m
8 PM
4h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Quincy, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Herrin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Quincy to Herrin is 253.2 miles and takes about 5h 4m via Avenue of the Saints and I-64, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, traversing familiar Midwest landscapes for its entire 253.2-mile length. The route is primarily a surface road experience with a significant portion on the Avenue of the Saints, offering a more connected feel to the towns you pass through. If you're looking for a straightforward, single-day trip without excessive highway time, this route is a practical choice.
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
126.6 miles from Quincy, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 40m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 102 mi | 2h 2m |
| I 64 | 75.1 mi | 1h 22m |
| Ken Gray Expressway | 32.7 mi | 35m |
| Gardner Expressway | 11.3 mi | 19m |
| Jack Buck Memorial Highway | 7 mi | 9m |
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| Daniel Boone Expressway | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Herrin Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 102 mi, about 2h 2m
Traffic on I-64
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,194 veh/hr typical · worst 4,111
Quietest
2 AM
~187 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 47 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 Herrin, 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
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Broadway Street
4
Turn left onto North 3rd Street
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
North 3rd Street
5
Continue on IL 57
11 mi
·
19 min
·
Gardner Expressway
6
Continue on East 1083rd Lane
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
East 1083rd Lane
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge onto I 172; IL 110
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9
Take the exit onto IL 110
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
10
Continue on I 72; US 36; IL 110
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
·
Mark Twain Memorial Bridge
11
Continue on I 72; US 36; MO 110
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
V.F.W. Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 61: New London, Palmyra
13
Keep slight left at fork
277 ft
·
9 sec
Toward US 61 South: New London
14
Turn slight left onto US 61
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
McMasters Avenue
15
Continue on US 61
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
16
Continue on US 61
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
McMasters Avenue
17
Continue on US 61
101 mi
·
2 hr 1 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on I 64; US 40
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Daniel Boone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on I 64; US 40
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Jack Buck Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 55; I 64; US 40
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Congressman William L. Clay Sr. Bridge
Use the straight lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55; I 64; US 40
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 55; I 64; US 40
Toward I 55 North, I 64 East, US 40 East: Chicago, Loiusville, Indianapolis
Use the straight lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64; IL 3
75 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
I 64; IL 3
Exit 3
Toward I 64 East, IL 3 North: Louisville
Use the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
33 mi
·
35 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward Johnston City, Herrin
25
Turn right onto Herrin Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Herrin Road
26
Continue on East Herrin Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Herrin Street
27
Turn left onto IL 148
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
North Park Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
IL 148
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 4m estimated duration, leaving Quincy in the morning is ideal to allow for a comfortable pace and potential brief stops. The longest stretch without significant highway driving is 102 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point. With a fuel cost estimated at $45, keep an eye on gas prices as you depart. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility; however, breaking up the 253.2 miles evenly can make the driving more manageable.
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 126.6 miles from Quincy, IL, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102 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 56 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.6 miles or 2h 40m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Herrin, 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 253.2 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 102 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 126.6 miles from Quincy, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rend Lake Rest Area (I57-SB)
0.1 mi from route
Rend Lake Rest Area - Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Gateway Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Fall Creek Rest Stop
0.8 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
1.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.6 mi from route
Rest Area
2.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 20.8 and 247.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward US 61: New London, Palmyra
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 61: New London, Palmyra
6
20.9 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 61 South: New London
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 61 South: New London
8
137.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 55m in
|
I 55; I 64; US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55; I 64; US 40 toward I 55 North, I 64 East, US 40 East: Chicago, Loiusville, Indianapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 55 North, I 64 East, US 40 East: Chica...
9
140.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
|
I 64; IL 3
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64; IL 3 toward I 64 East, IL 3 North: Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward I 64 East, IL 3 North: Louisville
5
247.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 56m in
Take the exit toward Johnston City, Herrin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Johnston City, Herrin
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.39 one way
$74.78 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $41.28 | $82.56 |
| premium | $4.72 | $47.01 | $94.02 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $47.81 | $95.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76 | 0 | $26.59 | $12.15 |
| Efficient EV | 63.3 | 0 | $22.16 | $10.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.3 | 1 | $35.45 | $16.20 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Quincy, IL
Late night in Quincy on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Clear
SW 6 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Herrin, IL
Late night in Herrin on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Clear
SW 1 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 4m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This 253.2-mile drive features a mixed highway and surface road profile, with 53% of the total mileage spent on highways. You'll encounter a long stretch of 102 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, which means you'll be navigating surface roads for a considerable portion of the trip before transitioning to I-64. Expect a less intense driving environment compared to an interstate-only route, with opportunities to observe the changing scenery more closely.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 253.2 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 20.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 137.8 miles (I 55; I 64; US 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
896 ft
417 ft
Total Climb
666 ft
Total Descent
817 ft
Highest Point
896 ft
~54.2 mi in
Elevation Range
479 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Herrin, IL, road signs point toward Palmyra, Loiusville and Indianapolis.
Palmyra
20.8 mi in
|
~32m
Loiusville
137.8 mi in
|
~2h 55m
|
via I 55; I 64; US 40
Indianapolis
137.8 mi in
|
~2h 55m
|
via I 55; I 64; US 40
About the Cities
Starting in Quincy, IL
Full guide →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
Arriving in Herrin, IL
Full guide →Founded 1816
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 4m. Total distance: 253.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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 Herrin, 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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 137.8 miles (I 55; I 64; US 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Herrin, IL before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Herrin, IL
More trips to Herrin, IL
Explore more options from Quincy, IL or browse trips ending in Herrin, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.