York, IL to Alden, IL is 313.9 miles and takes about 6h 24m via US 51 and I-74, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. With 80% of the route on highways, expect a relatively straightforward trip. It's a single-day drive, making it a convenient option for getting from point A to point B without needing an overnight stay. Plan for about 120 miles of continuous driving on US 51 at one point.
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
156.9 miles from York, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 51
120.7 mi
2h 9m
I 74
86.2 mi
1h 33m
IL 1
31.3 mi
46m
Georgetown Road
29.8 mi
44m
West Grove Street
12.4 mi
17m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
7.3 mi
7m
East Diggins Street
6.1 mi
8m
State Route 173
5.6 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 51
— 120.7 mi, about 2h 9m
Traffic on I-39
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,003 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,333
Quietest
1 AM
~102 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 100 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 York, IL and Alden, IL.
1
Start on North York Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·North York Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto West Broadway Street
0.2 mi·56 sec·West Broadway Street
3
Continue on East 150th Road
1.9 mi·7 min·East 150th Road
4
Turn sharp right onto IL 1
31 mi·46 min·IL 1
5
Continue on US 150; IL 1
2.4 mi·6 min·IL Route 1
6
Continue on US 150; IL 1
10 mi·14 min·Georgetown Road
7
Continue on US 150; IL 1
0.3 mi·28 sec·1575 E US 36
8
Continue on US 150; IL 1
6.1 mi·9 min·Georgetown Road
9
Continue on US 150; IL 1
1.9 mi·2 min·North State Street
10
Continue on US 150; IL 1
14 mi·20 min·Georgetown Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·41 sec
Toward I 74 West: Champaign
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 74 West
13
Merge onto I 74
86 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 74
14
Continue on I 55; US 51
0.9 mi·58 sec·I 55; US 51
15
Take the exit onto US 51
121 mi·2 hr 9 min·US 51
Exit 164Toward I 39 North: RockfordUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 39; US 20; US 51
2.2 mi·2 min·I 39; US 20; US 51
17
Continue on I 39; US 51
1.7 mi·1 min·I 39; US 51
18
Merge onto I 39; I 90; US 51
7.3 mi·7 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward IL 173: West Lane Road
20
Turn right onto IL 173
1.3 mi·1 min·West Lane Road
21
Continue on IL 173
5.6 mi·7 min·State Route 173
22
Continue on IL 173
12 mi·17 min·West Grove Street
23
Turn left onto US 14; IL 173
0.5 mi·49 sec·South Division Street
24
Turn right onto IL 173
6.1 mi·8 min·East Diggins Street
25
Turn right onto V12
11 ft·0 sec·Alden Road
26
Arrive at destination
V12
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 24m duration, leaving York, IL in the morning will allow you to reach Alden, IL with plenty of daylight to spare. The estimated fuel cost is around $50, so factor that into your budget. While it's a single-day trip, consider breaking up the longest stretch of 120.7 miles on US 51 with a brief stop for fuel or a stretch. There's only one recommended stop, so plan it strategically along your route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on longer highway segments.
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 156.9 miles from York, IL, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.7 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 69 miles or 1h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.9 miles or 3h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alden, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving York, 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 York, IL
This is one driving day of about 313.9 miles and 6h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from York, 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 US 51 for about 120.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 287.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Broadway Street
At end of road, turn right onto West Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.3 mi into trip|~9m in|IL 1
Turn sharp right onto IL 1
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
68.3 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 West
7
155.8 mi into trip|~3h 25m in|US 51
Take the exit onto US 51 toward I 39 North: Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 164
Toward I 39 North: Rockford
4
287.7 mi into trip|~5h 47m in
Take the exit toward IL 173: West Lane Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IL 173: West Lane Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.36 one way
$104.72 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$57.13
$114.26
premium
$5.25
$64.92
$129.84
diesel
$6.28
$77.56
$155.12
Estimated Tolls: $0.51
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(7.3 mi)$0.51
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
$52
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.2
1
$32.96
$15.07
Efficient EV
78.5
0
$27.47
$12.56
EV Truck/SUV
125.6
1
$43.95
$20.09
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
York, IL
Afternoon
in York on Friday
Local time
3:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
ESE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Alden, IL
Afternoon
in Alden on Friday
Local time
3:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Clear
SW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
48°F
Bloomington, IL
157 mi in
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
29 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
6h 24m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 80% of the 313.9 miles on major roads like US 51 and I-74. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 120.7 miles on US 51, indicating a good portion of uninterrupted cruising. Surface roads will likely begin after approximately 251 miles (80% of 313.9), offering a change of pace. Expect to see a higher density of exits as you approach and transition between these main highways.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 120.7 mi on US 51.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 51 and I 74. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Broadway Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 24m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 12 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (IL 1): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 68.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The longest stretch is about 120.7 miles on US 51. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.51 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.
Yes — we found about 26 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Alden, 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. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (IL 1): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 68.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Alden, IL before the return drive.
