Origin
Quincy, IL
Late night in Quincy on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Quincy, IL to Swansea, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 16m
Distance
151.3 mi
243 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 5m
★
6 AM
3h 17m
8 AM
3h 41m
10 AM
3h 25m
12 PM
3h 23m
3 PM
3h 26m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Quincy, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Swansea, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Quincy, IL to Swansea, IL is 151.3 miles and takes about 3h 16m via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically within Illinois, making it a straightforward journey. Given its relatively short duration and the fact that it's a single-day trip, it’s a practical option for a quick transition between these two Illinois locations. Expect a route that involves a fair number of turns, so keep your navigation handy. It’s a solid choice if you’re looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.6 miles from Quincy, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 102 mi | 2h 2m |
| 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 |
| New Missouri Avenue | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| North Belt West | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Missouri Avenue | 3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 102 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Quincy, IL and Swansea, 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 right at fork onto I 55; I 64; US 40
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Congressman William L. Clay Sr. Bridge
Toward I 55 North, I 64 East, US 40 East: East Saint Louis
Use the slight right lane.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Business District, Barack Obama Avenue, East Saint Louis
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn slight right onto Barack Obama Avenue
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Barack Obama Avenue
24
Turn right onto East Broadway
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Broadway
25
Turn left onto North 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
North 8th Street
26
Turn right onto IL 15
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Missouri Avenue
27
Continue on IL 15
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
New Missouri Avenue
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
29
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
this road
30
Turn straight onto IL 13
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Saint Louis Road
31
Continue on North Belt West
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Belt West
32
Continue on IL 161
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Belt West
33
Arrive at destination
IL 161
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 3 hours and a recommended single day for completion, you have a lot of flexibility for when you depart. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the earliest rush hour traffic in Quincy and arrive in Swansea with ample time. The route has one recommended stop, so plan to take a break around the halfway point or during that 102-mile stretch on Avenue of the Saints to refuel or stretch your legs. Given the turn-heavy nature of this drive, it’s wise to have your GPS actively guiding you to ensure you don’t miss any crucial turns, especially as you get closer to Swansea.
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 75.6 miles from Quincy, IL, or about 1h 39m 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 33 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.6 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Swansea, 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 151.3 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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
76 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 75.6 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 20.8 and 139.4 — 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 / Congressman William L. Clay Sr. Bridge
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55; I 64; US 40 / Congressman William L. Clay Sr. Bridge toward I 55 North, I 64 East, US 40 East: East Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 55 North, I 64 East, US 40 East: East...
7
138.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward Business District, Barack Obama Avenue, East Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Business District, Barack Obama Avenue,...
5
139.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 57m in
|
North 8th Street
Turn left onto North 8th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.65 one way
$47.31 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.97 | $51.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.12 | $58.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.41 | $66.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.4 | 0 | $15.89 | $7.26 |
| Efficient EV | 37.8 | 0 | $13.24 | $6.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.5 | 0 | $21.18 | $9.68 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Swansea, IL
Late night in Swansea on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3h 16m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its turn-heavy local drive profile, with only 15% of the journey on highways. You'll primarily be navigating on roads like the Avenue of the Saints, Gardner Expressway, and Jack Buck Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 102 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, offering a significant period of consistent driving before you start making more frequent turns. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires attention to navigation as you transition between different road types and make several directional changes throughout the 151.3 miles.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 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?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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
7/10
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 151.3 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 / Congressman William L. Clay Sr. Bridge): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Swansea, IL, road signs point toward Palmyra, Business District and Saint Louis.
Palmyra
20.8 mi in
|
~32m
Business District
138.7 mi in
|
~2h 56m
Saint Louis
138.7 mi in
|
~2h 56m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 151.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
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.
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 Swansea, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 / Congressman William L. Clay Sr. Bridge): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Swansea, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. 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 Swansea, IL
More trips to Swansea, IL
Explore more options from Quincy, IL or browse trips ending in Swansea, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.