If you are planning a trip from Riverton to York, expect a straightforward 142.4-mile journey across the Illinois Midwest. With a driving time of approximately 3 hours and 25 minutes, this route is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via South State Route 121, I-72, and I-70 to reach your destination. Budgeting around $22 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since the drive is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless your schedule requires a more leisurely pace. It is a practical, efficient way to connect these two points within the state.
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
71.2 miles from Riverton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South State Route 121
33.8 mi
48m
I 72
24.3 mi
26m
I 70
16 mi
17m
East Angling Road
13.7 mi
24m
Route 130
10 mi
14m
Illinois Route 16
6 mi
8m
Dewitt Avenue
5.8 mi
9m
US 51
5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
South State Route 121
— 33.8 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverton, IL and York, IL.
1
Start on East Lincoln Street
0.9 mi·2 min·East Lincoln Street
2
Continue on Overpass Road
0.5 mi·59 sec·Overpass Road
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
4
Merge onto I 72; US 36
24 mi·26 min·I 72; US 36
5
Take the exit onto US 36
0.3 mi·40 sec·US 36
Exit 133Toward US 36 East, US 51 South: Decatur, Pana
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 133BToward US 51 South: Pana
7
Merge onto US 51
5.0 mi·5 min·US 51
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward Decatur, Elwin, Mount Zion
9
Turn slight left
112 ft·2 sec
10
Turn left onto US 51 Business
0.3 mi·38 sec·South Business Route 51
11
Turn left onto CTH 20
4.2 mi·5 min·West Elwin Road
12
Continue on CTH 30
1.8 mi·3 min·West Main Street
13
Turn right onto IL 121
34 mi·48 min·South State Route 121
14
Continue on IL 121
5.8 mi·9 min·Dewitt Avenue
15
Turn right onto Lerna Road
0.5 mi·55 sec·Lerna Road
16
Turn left onto IL 16
6.0 mi·8 min·Illinois Route 16
17
Continue on IL 16
1.8 mi·2 min·West Lincoln Avenue
18
Turn right onto IL 130
1.6 mi·2 min·18th Street
19
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·Illinois Route 130
20
Continue on IL 130
10.0 mi·14 min·Route 130
21
Continue on IL 130
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 1825 East
22
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·County Road 1775 E
23
Continue on IL 130
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Haughton Highway
24
Continue on IL 130
1.3 mi·1 min·1700E
25
Continue on IL 130
0.4 mi·37 sec·North Haughton Highway
26
Turn left
0.3 mi·39 sec
27
Merge onto I 70
16 mi·17 min·I 70
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward Martinsville
29
Turn right onto North Cleone Road
0.6 mi·1 min·North Cleone Road
30
Continue on North York Street
1.9 mi·3 min·North York Street
31
Continue on East Angling Road
4.8 mi·8 min·East Angling Road
32
Continue on East Angling Road
9.0 mi·15 min·East Angling Road
33
Turn right onto IL 1
3.3 mi·5 min·IL 1
34
Turn sharp left onto East 150th Road
1.9 mi·7 min·East 150th Road
35
Continue on West Broadway Street
0.2 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
36
Turn left onto North York Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·North York Street
37
Arrive at destination
North York Street
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one stop to break up the 3-hour and 25-minute duration. Since the route is efficient, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though checking traffic on I-70 and I-72 before you leave is always a smart move. Given the $22 fuel estimate, it is wise to top off your tank before departing Riverton to avoid hunting for stations during the highway stretches. Keep an eye on the transition onto South State Route 121, as this 33.8-mile leg is your longest period behind the wheel. Use your single planned stop to stretch your legs and ensure you stay alert for the remainder of the trip.
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 71.2 miles from Riverton, IL, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.8 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.2 miles or 1h 34m 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 38m
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 Riverton, 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 Riverton, IL
This is one driving day of about 142.4 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Riverton, 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 South State Route 121 for about 33.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.2 and 140.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
26.2 mi into trip|~30m in|US 36
Take the exit onto US 36 toward US 36 East, US 51 South: Decatur, Pana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 133
Toward US 36 East, US 51 South: Decatur, Pana
6
26.5 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 51 South: Pana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 133B
Toward US 51 South: Pana
5
32.1 mi into trip|~37m in
Take the exit toward Decatur, Elwin, Mount Zion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Decatur, Elwin, Mount Zion
4
32.8 mi into trip|~39m in|CTH 20 / West Elwin Road
Turn left onto CTH 20 / West Elwin Road
Navigation decision point
5
140.1 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|East 150th Road
Turn sharp left onto East 150th Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.26 one way
$44.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.44
$48.89
premium
$4.89
$27.40
$54.81
diesel
$5.61
$31.44
$62.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.7
0
$14.95
$6.84
Efficient EV
35.6
0
$12.46
$5.70
EV Truck/SUV
57
0
$19.94
$9.11
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Riverton, IL
Late night
in Riverton on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
York, IL
Late night
in York on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 15 mph13% chanceLive 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 25m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with about 70% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You should be prepared for a consistent pace, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 33.8 miles along South State Route 121. While the route relies on interstates like I-72 and I-70 to keep you moving, the transition between these roads defines the character of your drive. Expect a mix of fast-paced highway commuting and segments that require a bit more attention as you navigate road changes. It is a functional drive designed for getting you from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.8 mi on South State Route 121.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South State Route 121 and I 72. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 26.2 miles in near US 36.
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 142.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 26.2 miles (US 36): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Riverton, IL and York, IL, road signs point toward Pana, Decatur, Elwin, Mount Zion and Martinsville.
Pana
26.2 mi in|~30m|via US 36
Decatur
32.1 mi in|~37m
Elwin
32.1 mi in|~37m
Mount Zion
32.1 mi in|~37m
Martinsville
120.2 mi in|~2h 42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 142.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.8 miles on South State Route 121. 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 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 26.2 miles (US 36): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at York, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
