Riley, IL to York, IL is 299.9 miles and takes about 6h 2m via I 39 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traveling through the Midwest region. It's a fairly direct route that should be straightforward for most drivers. With only one recommended stop and a manageable driving time, it's a good option for a single-day trip.
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
150 miles from Riley, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 39
122.1 mi
2h 11m
I 74
80.9 mi
1h 27m
South Main Street
30.4 mi
45m
Georgetown Road
29.6 mi
44m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
18.4 mi
19m
US 51
7.6 mi
8m
East 150th Road
1.9 mi
7m
North State Street
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 122.1 mi, about 2h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riley, IL and York, IL.
1
Start on Riley Road
0.6 mi·2 min·Riley Road
2
Turn left onto A49
0.7 mi·1 min·Harmony Road
3
Enter roundabout onto IL 23
22 ft·0 sec·South State Street
4
Continue on IL 23
0.2 mi·18 sec·South State Street
5
Enter roundabout
201 ft·3 sec
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
6
Continue
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
7
Merge onto I 90
18 mi·19 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
9
Merge onto I 39; US 51
0.5 mi·30 sec·I 39; US 51
10
Continue on I 39; US 20; US 51
2.1 mi·2 min·I 39; US 20; US 51
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; US 51
119 mi·2 hr 8 min·I 39; US 51
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51
7.6 mi·8 min·US 51
Toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74; US 51
81 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 74; US 51
Toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, DecaturUse the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 150, IL 1
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
16
Turn straight onto US 150; IL 1
14 mi·20 min·Georgetown Road
17
Continue on US 150; IL 1
1.9 mi·2 min·North State Street
18
Continue on US 150; IL 1
6.1 mi·9 min·Georgetown Road
19
Continue on US 150; IL 1
0.3 mi·28 sec·1575 E US 36
20
Continue on US 150; IL 1
10 mi·14 min·Georgetown Road
21
Continue on US 150; IL 1
1.4 mi·3 min·IL Route 1
22
Turn right onto US 150; IL 1
512 ft·8 sec·West Elliot Street
23
Turn left onto US 150; IL 1
1.7 mi·2 min·North Central Avenue
24
Continue on IL 1
0.1 mi·11 sec·Vandalia Way
25
Turn straight onto IL 1
30 mi·45 min·South Main Street
26
Turn sharp left onto East 150th Road
1.9 mi·7 min·East 150th Road
27
Continue on West Broadway Street
0.2 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
28
Turn left onto North York Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·North York Street
29
Arrive at destination
North York Street
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to ensure you arrive with plenty of daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in when you stop. Plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 122.1-mile stretch on I 39, as services can be spaced out on interstates.
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 150 miles from Riley, IL, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.1 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 66 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150 miles or 2h 44m 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 35m
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 Riley, 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 Riley, IL
This is one driving day of about 299.9 miles and 6h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Riley, 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 39 for about 122.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 231.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Enter roundabout toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
5
20.3 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
6
143 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|US 51
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51 toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champai...
8
150.6 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 74; US 51
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74; US 51 toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business N...
7
231.7 mi into trip|~4h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.89 one way
$93.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.48
$102.96
premium
$4.89
$57.71
$115.43
diesel
$5.61
$66.21
$132.43
Estimated Tolls: $1.29
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(18.4 mi)$1.29
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
$47
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90
1
$31.49
$14.40
Efficient EV
75
0
$26.24
$12.00
EV Truck/SUV
120
1
$41.99
$19.19
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Riley, IL
Late night
in Riley on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
York, IL
Late night
in York on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
5 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 2m 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?
You'll spend about 71% of this drive on highways, primarily I 39 and I 74. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 122.1 miles on I 39. Surface roads, including South Main Street, will make up the remaining portion of the trip. Expect a mix of interstate cruising and potentially some slower travel as you transition to local roads.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.1 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and I 74. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 299.9 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 20.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Riley, IL and York, IL, road signs point toward Champaign, Saint Louis and Decatur.
Champaign
143 mi in|~2h 37m|via US 51
Saint Louis
143 mi in|~2h 37m|via US 51
Decatur
143 mi in|~2h 37m|via US 51
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 2m. Total distance: 299.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.1 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.29 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.
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 York, 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 1.5 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 20.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at York, IL before the return drive.
