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
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,155 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,512
Quietest
2 AM
~228 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 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 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 10
5 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
$5.21 one way
$10.43 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg12 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$5.76
$11.51
premium
$4.72
$6.55
$13.11
diesel
$4.80
$6.67
$13.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
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.
Forecast as of Jul 12, 2026
Origin
Saint Elmo, IL
Late night
in Saint Elmo on Monday
Local time
1:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
NE 6 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 11 at 8:43PM CDT until July 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 11 at 8:43PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
La Clede, IL
Late night
in La Clede on Monday
Local time
1:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
NE 7 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 11 at 8:43PM CDT until July 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 11 at 8:43PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
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
44m 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.
More Details
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 Effort5/10
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 ft558 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.
On the drive from Saint Elmo, IL to La Clede, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Edgewood along the way.
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 — we found about 5 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.
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.
