How far is Chicago, IL from New Athens, IL?
The driving distance from Chicago, IL to New Athens, IL is about 310.7 miles (500 km), with a travel time of about 06h 04m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 270.4 miles (435.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 04m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Logan County, Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Showers And Thunderstorms
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chicago and New Athens.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago and New Athens.
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1
Start on the route
943 ft · 1 min
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Cermak Road
947 ft · 26 sec · West Cermak Road
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3
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
737 ft · 17 sec · South Halsted Street
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4
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
87 m · 6 sec · South Canalport Avenue
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5
Turn slight right
34 m · 5 sec
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6
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 East, I 94 East
139 m · 11 sec
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7
Keep slight right to continue on I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive
1820 ft · 44 sec
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8
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: St Louis
2604 ft · 1 min
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9
Merge slight left onto Stevenson Expressway
5.6 mi · 8 min · Stevenson Expressway
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10
Continue on Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
1739 ft · 27 sec · Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
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11
Continue on Adlai Stevenson Expressway
128.7 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min
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13
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
77.9 mi · 1 hr 24 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
1434 ft · 48 sec
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15
Continue on Vandalia Street
3 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street
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16
Continue on South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue
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17
Continue on North Illinois Street
9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street
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18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street
55 m · 5 sec · South Illinois Street
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19
Exit the rotary onto South Illinois Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · South Illinois Street
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20
Take the ramp left
945 ft · 23 sec
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21
Merge slight left
15.5 mi · 25 min
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22
Turn left onto White Cabin Lodge Road
158 m · 14 sec · White Cabin Lodge Road
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23
Continue on South Van Buren Street
568 ft · 16 sec · South Van Buren Street
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24
Turn right onto South Benton Street
2721 ft · 2 min · South Benton Street
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25
Turn right onto Chester Street
19 m · 3 sec · Chester Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Chester Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chicago and New Athens.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Continue on Adlai Stevenson Expressway
129 mi · 02h 26m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Chicago and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near New Athens.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chicago to New Athens?
The road trip is about 310.7 miles (500 km) and usually takes 06h 04m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Atlanta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 155.3 miles from Chicago and 155.3 miles from New Athens.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 270.4 miles (435.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.3 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.33 one way or $82.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Chicago and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near New Athens.
Stop Ideas Near Atlanta
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
City of Lincoln
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Atlanta.
Lincoln
Uptown Station
Peoria, Illinois
Springfield station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Chicago and New Athens. Straight-line distance: 270.4 mi (435.16 km).
#1 Chicago
The third most populous city in the United States and the center of the Chicago metropolitan area.
| Population | 2,677,643 |
| Coordinates | 41.850033, -87.6500523 |
| Altitude | 179 |
| Country | United States |
#2 New Athens
Village in St.
| Population | 1,865 |
| Coordinates | 38.3264400, -89.8770500 |
| Altitude | 121 |
| Country | United States |
End: New Athens (-89.87705, 38.32644)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 500 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 21m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 46m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 12m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 10m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 26m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 52m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $41.33 | $82.66 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $46.61 | $93.23 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $51.01 | $102.02 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $58.13 | $116.26 |
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 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.