Spanning 175.6 miles across the Illinois Midwest, this trip connects York to Brighton in approximately 3 hours and 34 minutes. You will spend the vast majority of your journey on major thoroughfares, making this an efficient one-day excursion that rarely requires an overnight stay. Expect to budget about $27 for fuel to complete the transit. Because the route is straightforward and focused on high-speed travel, it is ideal for those who prioritize reaching their destination quickly rather than lingering along the way. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the path is simple enough to navigate without complex planning.
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
87.8 miles from York, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
119.9 mi
2h 9m
IL 255
18.9 mi
21m
East Angling Road
13.7 mi
24m
I 270
7.7 mi
8m
IL 1
3.3 mi
4m
South Maple
3.1 mi
4m
Montclaire Avenue
2.3 mi
3m
East 150th Road
1.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 119.9 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between York, IL and Brighton, 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
19 mi·21 min·IL 255
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Exit 20Toward IL 111, IL 267: Godfrey
16
Turn right onto IL 111; IL 267
2.3 mi·3 min·Montclaire Avenue
17
Continue on IL 111; IL 267
3.1 mi·4 min·South Maple
18
Turn right onto West Center Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·West Center Street
19
Turn left onto North Market Street
341 ft·9 sec·North Market Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 34 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time to avoid peak traffic. You should aim to make at least one planned stop to break up the long 119.9-mile interstate segment, as this will help you stay alert behind the wheel. Since your fuel costs are estimated at $27, consider filling your tank before leaving York to avoid unnecessary stops in more remote sections of the route. If you find yourself needing a break, look for services along the I-70 corridor early to maximize your comfort. Staying mindful of the transition from the high-speed interstate to local roads will ensure you arrive in Brighton safely.
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 87.8 miles from York, IL, or about 1h 54m 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 39 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.8 miles or 1h 54m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brighton, 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 175.6 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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.
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 0.1 and 169.7 — 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
65.6 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|I 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 70 West: Saint Louis
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
169.7 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward IL 111, IL 267: Godfrey
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20
Toward IL 111, IL 267: Godfrey
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.45 one way
$54.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.14
$60.28
premium
$4.89
$33.79
$67.59
diesel
$5.61
$38.77
$77.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.7
0
$18.44
$8.43
Efficient EV
43.9
0
$15.36
$7.02
EV Truck/SUV
70.2
0
$24.58
$11.24
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
York, IL
Late night
in York on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brighton, IL
Late night
in Brighton on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Highland, IL
88 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
1 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 34m 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?
This journey is defined by a heavy reliance on highway travel, with 85% of your time spent on major roads like I-70 and IL-255. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, facing a significant 119.9-mile stretch on I-70 that serves as the backbone of the trip. While the transition onto East Angling Road adds some variety toward the end, the experience remains firmly rooted in a highway-focused drive. Expect a consistent, fast-paced environment that demands focus rather than sightseeing. The character of the road is functional and direct, providing a predictable experience from start to finish.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and IL 255. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Broadway 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 175.6 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 0.1 miles (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (IL 1): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 65.6 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Brighton, 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 34m. Total distance: 175.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 65.6 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Brighton, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
