York, IL to Cambridge, IL is 268.6 miles and takes about 5h 30m via I 74 and IL 1, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Illinois for its entirety. Given its predominantly highway profile and manageable duration, it's a straightforward drive suitable for a single day. You can expect a consistent pace for most of the journey, making it a practical option when you need to cover ground efficiently between these two points.
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
134.3 miles from York, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
176.6 mi
3h 10m
IL 1
31.3 mi
46m
Georgetown Road
29.8 mi
44m
I 474
14 mi
14m
IL 81
7.4 mi
11m
IL Route 1
2.4 mi
6m
East 150th Road
1.9 mi
7m
North State Street
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 176.6 mi, about 3h 10m
Traffic on I-74
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,331 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,563
Quietest
2 AM
~91 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 51 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 Cambridge, 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
Take the exit onto I 74
28 mi·30 min·I 74
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474
14 mi·14 min·I 474
Exit 99Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
16
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
17
Merge onto I 74
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 74
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward IL 81: Kewanee, Cambridge
19
Turn right
121 ft·3 sec
Toward IL 81: Kewanee, Cambridge
20
Turn straight onto IL 81
3.1 mi·4 min·IL 81
21
Turn straight onto IL 81
4.3 mi·6 min·IL 81
22
At end of road, turn right onto IL 81
460 ft·13 sec·South West Street
23
Turn left onto IL 81
0.3 mi·33 sec·West Court Street
24
Turn left onto South Prospect Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·South Prospect Street
25
Arrive at destination
North Prospect Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5.5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from York, IL, to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to break up the 176.6-mile stretch on I 74 or save your pause for when you transition to IL 1. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the $47 estimate is based on current averages, and it's always wise to refuel before hitting longer stretches of highway, especially on the interstate portion. This route is well within a single day's driving, so you won't need to plan for an overnight stay.
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 134.3 miles from York, IL, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.6 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 59 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.3 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cambridge, 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 268.6 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 74 for about 176.6 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 197.3 — 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
183.3 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|I 474
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474 toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 99
Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
5
197.3 mi into trip|~4h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.66 one way
$89.31 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$48.64
$97.29
premium
$5.18
$54.81
$109.62
diesel
$5.35
$56.58
$113.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.6
0
$28.20
$12.89
Efficient EV
67.2
0
$23.50
$10.74
EV Truck/SUV
107.4
1
$37.60
$17.19
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
York, IL
Afternoon
in York on Wednesday
Local time
2:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
E 1 to 7 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 5:49AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 1 at 5:44AM CDT until June 1 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Cambridge, IL
Afternoon
in Cambridge on Wednesday
Local time
2:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
E 10 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 5:49AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 1 at 5:44AM CDT until June 1 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
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
5h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 route is 86% highway, meaning you'll spend the vast majority of your time on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch on I 74 covers 176.6 miles, offering a consistent cruising experience. You'll transition to surface roads, like IL 1 and Georgetown Road, for the final portion of the drive. Expect a noticeable change in pace and exit frequency as you move from the interstate to these more local routes.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.6 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and IL 1. 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 Effort6/10
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 268.6 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 68.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
815 ft451 ft
Total Climb
658 ft
Total Descent
299 ft
Highest Point
815 ft
~153.5 mi in
Elevation Range
364 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 York, IL to Cambridge, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Island along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 268.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 176.6 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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 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 Cambridge, 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 22 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 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cambridge, IL before the return drive.
