How far is River Forest, IL from Belleville, IL?
The driving distance from River Forest, IL to Belleville, IL is about 292.6 miles (470.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 48m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 259.9 miles (418.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 36m 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 04h 48m.
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.
Village in McLean County, Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between River Forest and Belleville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between River Forest and Belleville.
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1
Start on Augusta Street
97 m · 18 sec · Augusta Street
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2
Turn left onto Lathrop Avenue
1.3 mi · 4 min · Lathrop Avenue
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3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Madison Street
52 m · 9 sec · Madison Street
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4
Turn right onto Des Plaines Avenue
2198 ft · 1 min · Des Plaines Avenue
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5
Take the ramp right toward I 290 West: Eisenhower Expressway
925 ft · 25 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Eisenhower Expressway
4.5 mi · 6 min · Eisenhower Expressway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
1.9 mi · 2 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
5.8 mi · 7 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 355 South: Joliet
1.2 km · 56 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway
8.6 mi · 11 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
1453 ft · 36 sec
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Joliet Road South
1965 ft · 48 sec
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13
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
706 ft · 17 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
111.5 mi · 2 hr 3 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min
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16
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
77.9 mi · 1 hr 24 min
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17
Take the exit slight right toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
1434 ft · 48 sec
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18
Continue on Vandalia Street
3 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street
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19
Continue on South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue
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20
Continue on North Illinois Street
9.3 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street
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21
Turn left onto East F Street
18 m · 3 sec · East F Street
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East F Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between River Forest and Belleville.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
112 mi · 02h 03m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving River Forest and Sunny near Belleville.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from River Forest to Belleville?
The road trip is about 292.6 miles (470.9 km) and usually takes 04h 48m 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?
McLean is a useful midpoint, sitting about 146.1 miles from River Forest and 146.5 miles from Belleville.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 259.9 miles (418.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.7 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 7:24 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.95 one way or $77.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around River Forest and Sunny near Belleville.
Stop Ideas Near McLean
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington Finance Department
City Hall - Town of Normal
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to McLean.
Lincoln
Uptown Station
Peoria, Illinois
Springfield station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between River Forest and Belleville. Straight-line distance: 259.93 mi (418.32 km).
#1 River Forest
Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States
| Population | 10,694 |
| Coordinates | 41.8978100, -87.8139500 |
| Altitude | 192 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Belleville
The county seat of St.
| Population | 40,536 |
| Coordinates | 38.5200500, -89.9839900 |
| Altitude | 157 |
| Country | United States |
End: East F Street (-89.983993, 38.519971)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 471 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 44m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 18m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 51m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 52m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 10m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 39m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $38.95 | $77.91 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $43.93 | $87.87 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $48.08 | $96.15 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $54.79 | $109.58 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.