HOW MUCH DOES GAS COST TO DRIVE FROM ILLINOIS TO ANYWHERE?
[Interactive Map]
Planning a Road Trip From Illinois? Here’s What Gas Will Actually Cost
Planning a road trip from Illinois and wondering how much gas will cost? Before you load up the car and hit the road, you probably want to know one thing: how much is this actually going to cost in gas?
We built an interactive map that answers that question for every single state — at a glance.
Unlike most gas calculators that spit out one number based on a single national average, this map uses each state’s actual current gas price for the miles you drive through it. That means the cost you see for California uses California’s expensive gas, and the cost for Kansas uses Kansas’s cheap gas. The result is a more accurate, more honest look at what your trip will actually cost.
Illinois currently has notably expensive gas at nearly $5.00 a gallon — and every direction you drive from here takes you into cheaper-gas territory. That actually changes the math in a really interesting way: short trips to neighboring states feel like a bargain, and longer trips west benefit big-time once you cross into the cheap-gas plains.
And one more thing worth knowing: this works both ways. Whether you’re driving FROM Illinois or TO Illinois, the math is the same — gas cost depends on the states you pass through, not the direction you’re heading. The map shows you the total cost either way.
Gas Cost: Metamora, IL to Every State
Hover any state to see total miles, drive time, gas cost, and per-state breakdown
Hover any state on the map below to see total miles, drive time, gas cost, AND the gas prices in every state along your route.
How We Calculated This
A few things worth knowing before you read the numbers:
Vehicle: 20 MPG — a reasonable average for most cars and SUVs
Routes: Actual driving routes from Metamora, Illinois (central IL), not straight-line distance
Destination: Geographic center city of each state
Gas prices: Each state’s own AAA average — not a national average
Data source: AAA Gas Prices, May 2026
Direction: One way from central Illinois
This means if you’re driving to Tennessee, we used Tennessee’s gas price for the miles you’re in Tennessee — not Illinois’s price for the whole trip. That’s what makes this different from a standard calculator, and it matters more from Illinois than almost anywhere else because Illinois’s gas is so much pricier than the states around it.
Quick Highlights
Closest and cheapest: Indiana at just $50 one way — Indianapolis is barely 3 hours away. Easiest tank-of-gas getaway in the lineup.
Most expensive: California at $494 — 30 hours, 2,105 miles, and California’s brutal $6.16-a-gallon gas on the back end.
Best value for distance: New Mexico at $251 for nearly 1,200 miles. Once you escape Illinois’s pricey gas and drop down through cheap Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, the southwestern states do the heavy lifting on your wallet.
The plot twist: Texas at $216 is cheaper than Connecticut at $234 — and Texas is actually farther. Heading southwest stays cheap because the gas keeps getting cheaper. Heading northeast gets pricier as you go.
Sweet spot: Tennessee at $115 for the classic Illinois-to-Nashville run — close enough to feel easy, far enough to feel like a real road trip.
How Long Does It Actually Take?
Gas cost is only half the equation. Before you commit to a road trip, you also need to know how many hours you’re actually going to be sitting in that car. We mapped that too.
Drive Time: Metamora, IL to Every State
Hover any state to see total miles and drive time. Times rounded up to nearest 5 minutes.
Gas Cost & Drive Time at a Glance
Every state from cheapest to most expensive, one way from Metamora, IL
| State | Destination | Miles | Drive Time | Gas Cost |
|---|
🏔️ Alaska: The Special Case
Yes, you can drive from Illinois to Alaska. No, it isn't a casual road trip. The route runs through 4 Canadian provinces — Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Yukon — before you cross back into the U.S. at the Alaska border.
Passport required. Some states issue Enhanced Driver's Licenses that allow land border crossings into Canada without a full passport — check with your state's DMV before you go.
Gas estimate uses current U.S. AAA averages for the U.S. portion (~1,393 miles) and an approximate Canadian average of $5.20/gallon USD-equivalent for the ~2,249 miles in Canada. Real-world costs will vary with current Canadian fuel prices and exchange rates.
Times are no traffic, direct route, rounded up to the nearest 5 minutes. Real world drive time will vary — budget extra for stops, construction, and the inevitable “we need snacks” moment 40 miles before the exit. 😄
Alaska: The Special Case
Yes, you can actually drive from Illinois to Alaska. But let’s be real — this is a completely different kind of trip.
Total miles: approximately 3,642 one way
Drive time: roughly 60 hours
Passport required: you drive through 4 Canadian provinces
Route: Illinois → Wisconsin → Minnesota → North Dakota → Saskatchewan → Alberta → British Columbia → Yukon → Alaska
Estimated gas cost: approximately $911 one way
British Columbia and Yukon are the longest single legs of the trip, and the sheer distance is what really drives the total up. The Canadian provinces are surprisingly reasonable on their own — it’s just a LOT of road.
Worth knowing: some states issue Enhanced Driver’s Licenses that allow land border crossings into Canada without a full passport. Check with your state’s DMV before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does each state show a different gas price?
Because gas actually costs different amounts in different states. California regularly runs over $6 a gallon. Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Arkansas often sit under $4. If we used Illinois’s price for the entire trip, you’d get a totally wrong number — Illinois has the highest gas in the lower 48 right now, so anywhere you go you’re driving into cheaper gas. We use the actual price in each state for the miles you drive there.
Why is the destination the center of the state and not a major city?
Using the geographic center of each state gives everyone a fair, consistent target. If we picked major cities, some states would look artificially cheap or expensive just because their biggest city happens to be near a border. The center point puts every state on equal footing.
Why start from central Illinois instead of Chicago?
Same reason — fairness. Chicago sits in the far northeast corner of the state. Starting from central Illinois gives a more honest middle-of-the-state baseline that works whether you’re driving from Chicago, Peoria, Springfield, or Bloomington. If you’re starting from Chicago, your trips east and northeast (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio) will run a bit shorter; your trips west and south will run a bit longer.
Does this include the full round trip?
No — all numbers are one way. Double it for a rough round trip estimate, though your return cost may vary a little depending on gas prices when you travel.
Is 20 MPG realistic for my car?
It’s a solid average for a typical car or SUV on the highway. If you drive a truck you might be closer to 15 MPG, if you drive a smaller sedan you might hit 30 MPG. To calculate your own cost: take the miles shown for your destination, divide by your actual MPG, and multiply by the destination state’s gas price.
How current are the gas prices?
Gas prices are based on AAA state averages from May 2026. Gas prices change constantly — for the most current numbers before your trip, check aaa.com/gas.
How much gas will I use driving from Illinois?
Divide the total miles for your destination by your vehicle’s MPG. For a 20 MPG car driving to Indianapolis (210 miles), that’s about 10.5 gallons. The map shows exact mileage for every state.
Ready to start planning?
Now that you know what gas will cost, it’s time to figure out where to actually go. If you’re heading southwest, our Route 66 cost guide picks up right where this map leaves off — Route 66 starts in Chicago and runs all the way to California. We’ve also got gas cost maps for Michigan and Florida if you’re a snowbird, a Great Lakes traveler, or someone who likes comparing the numbers from a few different starting points.
Wherever you’re headed, drive safe and bring snacks. 🦉
Keep Exploring
Whether you’re prepping for your drive or just looking for something fun to play with, here are three more reads we think you’ll love:
What to Pack for Route 66: The Real List Nobody Else Will Give You Heading southwest? Route 66 starts in Chicago and runs all the way to California. Here’s the real packing list — no fluff, no generic gear lists.
Where I’ve Been in America: Free Interactive States Map A free, interactive map you can use to track every state you’ve visited. Save it, share it, and watch your map fill in over the years.
The Cheap Cooler That Keeps Ice All Weekend (It’s Not What You Think) The road trip cooler that actually keeps ice for days — without spending Yeti money. Our real-world test, plus the two-cooler system we swear by.
