Origin
Saint Elmo, IL
Late night in Saint Elmo on Tuesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Elmo, IL to La Clede, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
35.3 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Elmo, IL
Wikimedia Commons
La Clede, IL
Claudia Solano
Trip Overview
This 35.3-mile drive from Saint Elmo to La Clede, Illinois, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 44 minutes. It's a perfect option for a short day trip within the Midwest, requiring no overnight stays. The route is primarily highway-focused, with a minimal fuel cost estimated at $5. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a straightforward journey. This drive is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points without a significant time commitment or budget.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| I 57 | 12.1 mi | 12m |
| IL 37 | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Interstate Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Iowa Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Cumberland Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| N 750th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 15.4 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Elmo, IL and La Clede, IL.
1
Start on East 4th Street
145 ft
·
11 sec
·
East 4th Street
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 40
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
East Cumberland Road
4
Turn left onto Interstate Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I-70 East: Effingham
6
Merge onto I 70
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 70
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
8
Merge onto I 57
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 57
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward Edgewood
10
Turn straight onto N 750th Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
N 750th Street
11
Continue on CR 29
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Iowa Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto IL 37
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
IL 37
13
Turn right onto Fayette Avenue
80 ft
·
3 sec
·
Fayette Avenue
14
Turn right onto Bond Street
119 ft
·
5 sec
·
Bond Street
15
Arrive at destination
Bond Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 30.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I-70 East: Effingham
Navigation decision point
Toward I-70 East: Effingham
4
17.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward I 57 South: Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
4
29.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward Edgewood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Edgewood
4
30.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
IL 37
At end of road, turn right onto IL 37
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.52 one way
$11.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.06 | $12.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.79 | $13.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.79 | $15.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
La Clede, IL
Late night in La Clede on Tuesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 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
44m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this 35.3-mile route, with 90% of your journey on interstates like I-70 and I-57. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15.4 miles on I-70, offering a consistent pace. This means you'll be in a driving environment that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads or scenic detours. The character of the drive is largely defined by its efficient interstate segments, making it a predictable and smooth experience behind the wheel.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.4 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and I 57. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 35.3 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
635 ft
558 ft
Total Climb
50 ft
Total Descent
97 ft
Highest Point
635 ft
~5 mi in
Elevation Range
76 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.
On the drive from Saint Elmo, IL to La Clede, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Edgewood along the way.
Edgewood
29.8 mi in
|
~34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 35.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.4 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at La Clede, IL before heading back.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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