Vandalia, IL Road Trips
Sitting in the Midwest, Vandalia, IL is a local road trip base with 7 trip routes mapped and ready to explore. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 211-mile quick runs to 283-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Vandalia, IL head north, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
7
Longest Drive
283.1 mi
Waukegan, IL
Quickest Drive
4h 1m
Markham, IL
Plan Around Vandalia, IL
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Vandalia, IL is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Vandalia, IL
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Vandalia, IL
Driving from Vandalia, IL
Expect an average of 237 miles and about 4h 38m behind the wheel when leaving Vandalia, IL. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 283 miles (5h 24m), while the shortest is just 211 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Vandalia, IL include Waukegan, IL (283.1 mi, 5h 24m), Chicago, IL (242.1 mi, 4h 30m), Cicero, IL (238.1 mi, 4h 29m), Naperville, IL (227.1 mi, 4h 37m), and Aurora, IL (222.7 mi, 4h 33m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in IL currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 237-mile trip from Vandalia, IL, budget about $35 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes mostly head north. Summer trips benefit from long daylight hours, while winter departures should start early to maximize visibility. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 6 mapped routes leaving Vandalia, IL and 1 routes heading into Vandalia, IL, covering 7 total connections. Distances range from 211 to 283 miles.
The longest mapped route from Vandalia, IL covers 283 miles and takes approximately 5h 24m. Shorter options start at just 211 miles.
The average route from Vandalia, IL runs about 237 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 38m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 237-mile trip from Vandalia, IL costs roughly $35 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Vandalia, IL include Waukegan, IL, Chicago, IL, Cicero, IL and Naperville, IL. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Vandalia, IL by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
6,041
Median Income
$43,184
Median Home Value
$88,800
Median Age
42.9
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Vandalia, IL at a Glance
Founded
1819
Elevation
518 ft
Area
8 mi²
Notable People from Vandalia, IL
A sampling of people born in Vandalia, IL.
June Squibb
1929
American actress
H. Joel Deckard
1942–2016
American politician (1942-2016)
Frederick Remann
1847–1895
American politician (1847-1895)
Forrest Claypool
1958
American politician
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Vandalia, IL.
Madonna of the Trail
series of 12 monuments dedicated to the spirit of pioneer women in the United States
City data from Wikidata (Q577674), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Vandalia, IL
Vandalia is a city in Central Illinois. The town where Abraham Lincoln began his political career, Vandalia was the state capital of Illinois from 1820 to 1839. As a member of the state legislature, in 1837 Lincoln made his first comments against slavery in Vandalia.
The state capital moved to Vandalia only two years after Illinois became a state. Three separate buildings in Vandalia served as the Capitol: the first burned, the second was torn down, and the third remains as a historic site, maintained both as a part of Illinois history, and more importantly as a part of the life of Abraham Lincoln. In 1839, the legislature moved to Springfield, leaving the quiet town of Vandalia behind. Long before the Interstate Highway system, the US federal government began building the National Road in 1811, planned to connect Maryland with Missouri. This was the first federally-funded road in the new country. While funding shortfalls stopped the road in Vandalia in 1839, the National Road served as the gateway to the west for thousands of settlers, bringing them as far as central Illinois. When the "modern" US highway system was developed in 1925, the National Road became a part of US 40. Today, you may tour the last Vandalia State Capitol, sit in the chamber where Lincoln sat, visit the National Road Interpretive Center, and see Lincoln-era artifacts and antiques at the county museum.
1 The Illinois State Capitol at Vandalia (Vandalia State House), 315 W. Gallatin St, ☏ +1 618 283-1161. May-Oct: Tu-Sa 9 AM – 5 PM. Nov.-May: Tu-Sa 9 AM. – 4 PM. From May through September, interpreters dressed in 1830s costumes provide guided tours several days a week. 2 National Road Interpretive Center, 106 S. 5th St., ☏ +1 618 283-9380, [email protected]. Tu-Sat. 10 AM- 4 PM. (updated Feb 2017)
Corn Days Festival. Last weekend in September. Complete with a CORN-y Joke Telling Contest, magic shows, and music, the town celebrates farmers as the crop year ends. Cemetery Walk. Costumed residents portray figures from the early history of Vandalia and Illinois during this festival. 1 Vandalia Lake, ☏ +1 618 283-4770. (updated Dec 2017)
The Copper Penny Bar, 125 S 4th St, ☏ +1 618-283-9283. (updated Apr 2021)
Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 21 Mattes Ave, toll-free: +1-888-465-4329. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Includes continental breakfast and WiFi, and has a business center and small fitness center. Pets allowed with $20/night fee. Non-smoking. (updated Mar 2021) Ramada by Wyndham, 2707 Veterans Ave, ☏ +1 618-699-4222. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Breakfast included and has an outdoor pool, fitness center, and laundry facility. Pet friendly. Non-smoking. (updated Apr 2021)
Vandalia is on Interstate 70, between St. Louis and Indianapolis. US Highway 40 goes through the center of town.
Travel tips adapted from Vandalia (Illinois) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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