How far is Alton, IL from Crystal Lake, IL?
The driving distance from Alton, IL to Crystal Lake, IL is about 312.5 miles (503 km), with a travel time of about 05h 09m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 251.4 miles (404.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 05h 09m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Township in Henry County, Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Alton and Crystal Lake.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alton and Crystal Lake.
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1
Start on Alby Street
58 m · 10 sec · Alby Street
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2
Turn right onto East Broadway
649 ft · 22 sec · East Broadway
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3
Turn right onto Piasa Street
2192 ft · 37 sec · Piasa Street
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4
Continue on Martin Luther King Drive
1.5 km · 1 min · Martin Luther King Drive
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5
Turn right onto College Avenue
1274 ft · 26 sec · College Avenue
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6
Turn right
20 m · 1 sec
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7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward College Avenue
116 m · 10 sec · College Avenue
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8
Exit the roundabout onto College Avenue
3.6 mi · 6 min · College Avenue
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9
Continue on West Macarthur Drive
1.3 mi · 2 min · West Macarthur Drive
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10
Continue on West MacArthur Drive
1.4 mi · 3 min · West MacArthur Drive
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11
Continue on West Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi · 4 min · West Bethalto Drive
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12
Continue on State Route 140
9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140
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13
Continue on West State Street
1.3 km · 2 min · West State Street
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14
Continue on State Route 140
135 m · 14 sec · State Route 140
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15
Take the ramp left
1515 ft · 38 sec
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16
Merge slight left
96.7 mi · 1 hr 44 min
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17
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago
29.4 mi · 31 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
63.6 mi · 1 hr 8 min
-
19
Take the exit slight right toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
1853 ft · 35 sec
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20
Turn left
32 mi · 39 min
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21
Turn right onto Walker Road
1.5 mi · 2 min · Walker Road
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22
Turn left onto Ashley Road
2.8 mi · 4 min · Ashley Road
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23
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Schoolhouse Road
2391 ft · 46 sec · East Schoolhouse Road
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24
Turn left onto Minkler Road
3.4 mi · 5 min · Minkler Road
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25
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Minkler Road
38 m · 4 sec · Minkler Road
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26
Exit the roundabout onto Minkler Road
1.5 km · 2 min · Minkler Road
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27
Continue on Orchard Road
11.2 mi · 19 min · Orchard Road
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28
Turn left onto South Randall Road
24.9 mi · 41 min · South Randall Road
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29
Continue on North Randall Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · North Randall Road
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30
Continue on James R Rakow Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · James R Rakow Road
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31
Turn left onto Pyott Road
1947 ft · 39 sec · Pyott Road
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32
Continue on South Main Street
1.7 mi · 4 min · South Main Street
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33
Turn left onto East Crystal Lake Avenue
8 m · 1 sec · East Crystal Lake Avenue
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Crystal Lake Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Alton and Crystal Lake.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
State Route 140
Merge slight left
96.7 mi · 01h 44m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Alton and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Crystal Lake.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Alton to Crystal Lake?
The road trip is about 312.5 miles (503 km) and usually takes 05h 09m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Burns is a useful midpoint, sitting about 146.6 miles from Alton and 166 miles from Crystal Lake.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 251.4 miles (404.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 61.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:40 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.59 one way or $83.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 98 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Alton and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Crystal Lake.
Stop Ideas Near Burns
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City Hall - Town of Normal
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington Finance Department
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Burns.
Uptown Station
Lincoln
Pontiac station
Peoria, Illinois
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Alton and Crystal Lake. Straight-line distance: 251.39 mi (404.57 km).
#1 Alton
City in Madison County, Illinois, United States
| Population | 26,049 |
| Coordinates | 38.8906000, -90.1842800 |
| Altitude | 150 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Crystal Lake
City located in McHenry County, Illinois, USA
| Population | 39,642 |
| Coordinates | 42.2411300, -88.3162000 |
| Altitude | 279 |
| Country | United States |
End: East Crystal Lake Avenue (-88.316198, 42.241185)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 503 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 48m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 15m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 12m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 27m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 53m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $41.59 | $83.19 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $46.91 | $93.82 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $51.33 | $102.67 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $58.50 | $117.01 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Illinois · Apr 15, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.