Spanning 162.3 miles across the Illinois landscape, this trip from York to Bethalto typically requires about 3 hours and 18 minutes of travel time. Because the journey is relatively straightforward, you can easily complete it as a efficient day trip without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $25 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating primarily via I-70, East Angling Road, and IL-255, you will find this to be a functional, highway-focused route connecting two points within the Midwest. It serves as a practical transit option for those looking to move between these regions without unnecessary detours.
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
81.2 miles from York, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
119.9 mi
2h 9m
East Angling Road
13.7 mi
24m
IL 255
9.6 mi
11m
I 270
7.7 mi
8m
IL 1
3.3 mi
4m
East 150th Road
1.9 mi
7m
South York Street
1.9 mi
3m
Erwin Plegge Boulevard
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 119.9 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between York, IL and Bethalto, 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
3.3 mi·4 min·IL 1
5
Turn left onto East Angling Road
9.0 mi·15 min·East Angling Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto East Angling Road
4.8 mi·8 min·East Angling Road
7
Continue on South York Street
1.9 mi·3 min·South York Street
8
Continue on North Cleone Road
0.9 mi·1 min·North Cleone Road
9
Turn left
0.4 mi·46 sec
10
Merge onto I 70
43 mi·46 min·I 70
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
77 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 70
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
7.7 mi·8 min·I 270
Toward I 270 West, I 55 North: Kansas City, Chicago
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 7BToward IL 255 North: Alton
14
Merge onto IL 255
9.6 mi·11 min·IL 255
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 10Toward IL 111, IL 140: Alton, Bethalto
16
Keep slight right at fork
221 ft·5 sec
Toward IL 111, IL 140: Bethalto
17
Turn straight onto IL 111; IL 140
0.3 mi·38 sec·East MacArthur Drive
18
Turn left onto North Bellwood Drive
0.2 mi·37 sec·North Bellwood Drive
19
Turn right onto Erwin Plegge Boulevard
1.0 mi·2 min·Erwin Plegge Boulevard
20
Turn right onto South Oak Street
198 ft·9 sec·South Oak Street
21
At end of road, turn left onto West Sherman Street
225 ft·7 sec·West Sherman Street
22
Arrive at destination
West Sherman Street
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since the 3-hour and 18-minute duration offers plenty of flexibility for your daily schedule. With only one recommended stop planned, you have the freedom to pace the drive according to your own needs rather than a rigid itinerary. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during that long 119.9-mile stretch on I-70 to ensure you remain within your $25 budget. Since this is a highway-heavy route, try to time your travel to avoid peak rush hours near larger transit hubs to keep your drive time consistent. Prioritize taking your single break after the long interstate segment to refresh before navigating the final local roads into Bethalto.
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 81.2 miles from York, IL, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.9 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 36 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.2 miles or 1h 47m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethalto, 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 162.3 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 I 70 for about 119.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
4.6 mi from route
~12 min detour
$20 to $30
mile 58
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: 6–10 am
+12175407716
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 160.7 — 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
6
142.4 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 West, I 55 North: Kansas City, Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 270 West, I 55 North: Kansas City, Chi...
6
160.4 mi into trip|~3h 14m in
Take the exit toward IL 111, IL 140: Alton, Bethalto
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 10
Toward IL 111, IL 140: Alton, Bethalto
7
160.7 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 111, IL 140: Bethalto
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 111, IL 140: Bethalto
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.37 one way
$50.75 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.86
$55.72
premium
$4.89
$31.23
$62.47
diesel
$5.61
$35.83
$71.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.7
0
$17.04
$7.79
Efficient EV
40.6
0
$14.20
$6.49
EV Truck/SUV
64.9
0
$22.72
$10.39
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
York, IL
Morning
in York on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bethalto, IL
Morning
in Bethalto on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
3 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
3h 18m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive dominated by highway travel, as 87% of your journey takes place on high-speed roads. The experience is largely defined by a significant 119.9-mile stretch on I-70, which provides a consistent, steady pace behind the wheel. As you transition from the interstate onto East Angling Road and eventually IL-255, the character of the drive shifts from long-distance cruising to more localized transit. While this is not a technical winding route, the heavy reliance on interstates makes for a predictable and efficient driving experience. You will spend the vast majority of your time maintaining highway speeds as you cross the state.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.9 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and East Angling Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Broadway Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 162.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 142.4 miles (I 270): 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.
On the drive from York, IL to Bethalto, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Chicago
142.4 mi in|~2h 53m|via I 270
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 18m. Total distance: 162.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119.9 miles on I 70. 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 Bethalto, 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 0.1 miles (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (IL 1): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 142.4 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Bethalto, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
