York, IL to Fairbury, IL is 155.9 miles and takes about 3h 43m via I 74 and IL 1, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest on a route that's mostly highway. You'll spend a good chunk of time on the interstate, so expect that kind of driving experience. It's a straightforward trip, well-suited for a single day of travel without feeling rushed.
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
77.9 miles from York, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
41.8 mi
45m
IL 1
31.3 mi
46m
Georgetown Road
29.8 mi
44m
IL 9
20.6 mi
29m
County Road 400 East
7.7 mi
10m
County Road 350 East
4.5 mi
6m
North 450 East Road
3.5 mi
4m
East 800 North Road
2.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 41.8 mi, about 45m
Traffic on I-74
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,258 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,539
Quietest
2 AM
~96 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.1×
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 York, IL and Fairbury, 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
42 mi·45 min·I 74
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 172Toward IL 47: Gibson City, Mahomet
15
Turn right onto IL 47
0.1 mi·16 sec·County Road 400 East
16
Continue on IL 47
4.5 mi·6 min·County Road 350 East
17
Continue on IL 47
7.5 mi·10 min·County Road 400 East
18
Continue on IL 47
2.1 mi·2 min·County Road 450 East
19
Continue on IL 47
3.5 mi·4 min·North 450 East Road
20
Continue on IL 47
383 ft·7 sec·North 450E Road
21
Continue on IL 47
0.4 mi·54 sec·South Sangamon Avenue
22
Turn left onto IL 9; IL 47; IL 54
0.5 mi·53 sec·West 1st Street
23
Turn slight right
138 ft·7 sec
24
Turn right onto IL 9; IL 47
21 mi·29 min·IL 9; IL 47
25
Turn left onto US 24
0.4 mi·45 sec·West Wabash Street
26
Continue on US 24
1.7 mi·2 min·East 820 North Road
27
Continue on US 24
2.6 mi·3 min·East 800 North Road
28
Continue on US 24
0.8 mi·2 min·East Oak Street
29
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
0.2 mi·1 min·South 2nd Street
30
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 43m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning from York, IL will comfortably get you to Fairbury, IL before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility on when and where to take a break. The fuel cost estimate is around $28, so plan accordingly. You'll be on I 74 for a significant portion, so be aware of interstate traffic patterns and exit numbers as you approach your destination.
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 77.9 miles from York, IL, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.8 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 34 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.9 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairbury, 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 155.9 miles and 3h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 41.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 129 — 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
6
110.5 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Take the exit toward IL 47: Gibson City, Mahomet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 172
Toward IL 47: Gibson City, Mahomet
4
129 mi into trip|~3h 3m in|IL 9; IL 47; IL 54 / West 1st Street
Turn left onto IL 9; IL 47; IL 54 / West 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.02 one way
$46.05 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$25.42
$50.83
premium
$4.72
$28.95
$57.89
diesel
$4.80
$29.44
$58.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.8
0
$16.37
$7.48
Efficient EV
39
0
$13.64
$6.24
EV Truck/SUV
62.4
0
$21.83
$9.98
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 19, 2026
Origin
York, IL
Late night
in York on Monday
Local time
4:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
N 3 to 7 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:16PM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:38PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Fairbury, IL
Late night
in Fairbury on Monday
Local time
4:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Areas Of Smoke
ENE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:16PM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:38PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
85°F
Newell, IL
78 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
6 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
3h 43m 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?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 62% of the trip on interstates. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 41.8 miles on I 74 before transitioning to other roads. Expect to see more rural cruising once you leave the main interstate, as the highway portion concludes.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.8 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and IL 1. 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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 43m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 68.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
793 ft451 ft
Total Climb
484 ft
Total Descent
250 ft
Highest Point
793 ft
~133.6 mi in
Elevation Range
342 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 Fairbury, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Mahomet along the way.
The longest stretch is about 41.8 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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, 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 68.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Fairbury, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
