Illinois features an extensive network of 24 Interstate highways and numerous U.S. highways, making it a critical transportation hub in the United States. Key interstates include I-55, which connects Chicago to St. Louis, I-90, the longest interstate in the U.S., and I-294, a major tollway around Chicago. U.S. highways such as US-66, famously known as "Route 66," originated in Illinois and span across the country. These highways cover over 2,100 miles, supporting interstate commerce and regional connectivity while linking Illinois to neighboring states.
Explore the road map of Illinois state of USA showing interstate highways, US highways and other road network.
Illinois is a key transportation hub in the United States, featuring 24 Interstate highways that span a combined length of over 2,100 miles. These highways play a vital role in facilitating commerce, travel, and connectivity across the state and beyond. Major interstates include I-55, connecting Chicago to St. Louis; I-90, which is part of the nation’s longest interstate stretching from Boston to Seattle; and I-80, a transcontinental route linking Illinois to Iowa and Indiana. The Chicago Skyway (I-90) and I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) serve as critical links in the Chicago metropolitan area, accommodating millions of vehicles annually. These highways ensure efficient movement of goods and people, making Illinois a central node in the national transportation network.
| Interstate Highway | Length in Illinois (Miles) | Route Description | Key Cities Served | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-55 | 294 | Runs from the Missouri state line near St. Louis to the Chicago area | St. Louis, Springfield, Bloomington, Joliet, Chicago | Connects Chicago to St. Louis; follows the historic Route 66 in parts |
| I-57 | 358 | Extends from the Missouri state line near Cairo to Chicago | Cairo, Champaign, Kankakee, Chicago | Major north-south corridor linking southern Illinois to Chicago |
| I-70 | 160 | Runs from the Indiana state line to the Missouri state line near St. Louis | Effingham, St. Louis | Connects St. Louis to Indianapolis and eastern states |
| I-74 | 170 | Traverses Illinois from the Iowa state line to the Indiana state line | Quad Cities, Peoria, Bloomington, Champaign | Major east-west route in central Illinois |
| I-80 | 163 | Spans Illinois from the Iowa state line to the Indiana state line | Quad Cities, Joliet, Chicago | Part of the transcontinental route from New York to San Francisco |
| I-88 | 140 | Runs from the Quad Cities to the western suburbs of Chicago | Quad Cities, Aurora, Naperville | Known as the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway |
| I-90 | 124 | Extends from the Wisconsin state line to the Indiana state line | Rockford, Chicago | Includes the Chicago Skyway; part of the longest Interstate in the U.S. |
| I-94 | 77 | Runs from the Wisconsin state line to the Indiana state line | Chicago | Includes the Edens Expressway and part of the Dan Ryan Expressway |
| I-39 | 140 | Connects I-90 near Rockford to I-55 in Bloomington | Rockford, Bloomington | Major north-south route in central Illinois |
| I-294 | 53 | Bypasses Chicago as part of the Tri-State Tollway | Chicago suburbs | Important route for avoiding downtown Chicago traffic |
| I-355 | 32 | Extends from I-80 in New Lenox to I-290 in Itasca | Chicago suburbs | Known as the Veterans Memorial Tollway |
| Interstate Highway | Length in Illinois (Miles) | Route Description | Key Cities Served | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-190 | 3.1 | Connects O'Hare International Airport to I-90 | Chicago | Main route to O'Hare Airport; includes toll sections |
| I-290 | 29 | Runs from I-90/I-94 in Chicago to I-88 in the western suburbs | Chicago, Oak Park, Elmhurst | Known as the Eisenhower Expressway |
| I-294 | 53 | Beltway around Chicago as part of the Tri-State Tollway | Chicago suburbs | Bypasses downtown Chicago; vital for regional freight traffic |
| I-355 | 32 | Runs from I-80 in New Lenox to I-290 in Itasca | Chicago suburbs | Known as the Veterans Memorial Tollway |
| I-474 | 14 | Bypass around the southwestern part of Peoria | Peoria | Provides an alternative route for trucks and local traffic |
| I-555 | 1 | Short section connecting I-55 to local routes in Lincoln | Lincoln | Serves as a spur for local access |
| I-80 (Shared) | 163 (Shared with Primary) | Forms a belt route in the Chicago Metro Area | Joliet, Chicago | Shared with mainline interstates as a supplementary route |
| Business Loop | Length (Miles) | Primary Interstate | Cities Served | Route Description | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Loop I-24 (Metropolis) | 5.7 | I-24 | Metropolis | Provides local access through downtown Metropolis | Connects to the Superman Statue and Harrah's Casino |
| Business Loop I-55 (Lincoln) | 7.5 | I-55 | Lincoln | Runs through downtown Lincoln, serving local businesses | Historic Route 66 alignment |
| Business Loop I-57 (Marion) | 8.2 | I-57 | Marion | Provides access to downtown Marion and regional attractions | Passes near Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge |
| Business Loop I-80 (Joliet) | 6.3 | I-80 | Joliet | Serves downtown Joliet and nearby industrial areas | Connects to the Chicagoland Speedway and Joliet Union Station |
| Business Loop I-90 (Rockford) | 5.9 | I-90 | Rockford | Loops through central Rockford, providing urban access | Connects to the Rockford Art Museum and regional shopping centers |
| Business Loop I-94 (Waukegan) | 4.6 | I-94 | Waukegan | Passes through downtown Waukegan | Provides access to the Waukegan Harbor and arts district |
Illinois hosts a network of 21 U.S. Highways, covering a combined length of over 2,700 miles. These highways provide critical connections between cities, towns, and neighboring states, complementing the Interstate system. Notable highways include U.S. Route 66, a historic corridor known as the "Main Street of America," which originated in Chicago and stretched to California. Other significant routes include U.S. Route 20, the longest U.S. highway running from the Mississippi River to the Indiana state line, and U.S. Route 34, which serves major cities like Galesburg and Aurora. These highways play a vital role in regional commerce and tourism, linking Illinois’s urban centers to rural areas and other states.
| U.S. Highway | Length in Illinois (Miles) | Route Description | Key Cities Served | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Route 6 | 179 | Runs east-west from the Iowa state line to the Indiana state line | Quad Cities, Joliet | Part of the Grand Army of the Republic Highway |
| U.S. Route 12 | 85 | Runs northwest-southeast from the Wisconsin state line to Chicago | Chicago, Waukegan | Known as Rand Road in northern Illinois |
| U.S. Route 14 | 89 | Extends from the Wisconsin state line to Chicago | Crystal Lake, Chicago | Follows Northwest Highway in suburban Chicago |
| U.S. Route 20 | 233 | Spans Illinois from the Iowa state line to the Indiana state line | Rockford, Elgin, Chicago | The longest U.S. highway; passes through Galena |
| U.S. Route 24 | 255 | Runs east-west across central Illinois | Quincy, Peoria | Crosses the Illinois River at Peoria |
| U.S. Route 30 | 153 | Runs east-west from the Iowa state line to Indiana | Sterling, Joliet | Part of the historic Lincoln Highway |
| U.S. Route 34 | 211 | Extends from the Iowa state line to Chicago | Galesburg, Aurora | Passes through suburban and rural areas |
| U.S. Route 40 | 159 | Runs from the Missouri state line near St. Louis to Indiana | St. Louis, Effingham | Part of the National Road |
| U.S. Route 45 | 428 | Runs north-south through the length of Illinois | Effingham, Champaign, Kankakee | The longest U.S. highway in Illinois |
| U.S. Route 50 | 165 | Extends from the Missouri state line to Indiana | Salem, Lawrenceville | Part of the Coast-to-Coast U.S. Route 50 |
| U.S. Route 51 | 398 | Runs north-south through the center of Illinois | Decatur, Bloomington, Rockford | Major north-south corridor |
| U.S. Route 52 | 215 | Runs from the Iowa state line to Indiana | Dixon, Joliet | Follows historic paths of early U.S. routes |
| U.S. Route 54 | 24 | Short route in western Illinois | Pittsfield | Connects Illinois to Missouri |
| U.S. Route 60 | 0.1 | Briefly enters Illinois at Cairo | Cairo | Crosses the Mississippi River |
| U.S. Route 66 (Decommissioned) | 301 (Historic) | Ran from Chicago to St. Louis | Chicago, Springfield, St. Louis | Known as the "Mother Road"; replaced by I-55 |
| Special Route | Length (Miles) | Parent U.S. Highway | Route Description | Key Cities/Towns | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Route 20 Business (Freeport) | 12 | U.S. Route 20 | Provides local access through Freeport | Freeport | Serves downtown Freeport and bypasses the main highway |
| U.S. Route 24 Business (Peoria) | 9 | U.S. Route 24 | Loops through downtown Peoria | Peoria | Connects to local attractions and the Illinois River |
| U.S. Route 40 Business (Effingham) | 6 | U.S. Route 40 | Provides access to downtown Effingham | Effingham | Historic alignment of the National Road |
| U.S. Route 51 Business (Decatur) | 7.5 | U.S. Route 51 | Runs through central Decatur | Decatur | Serves local businesses and community areas |
| U.S. Route 66 Business (Springfield) | 10 | Historic U.S. Route 66 | Follows historic Route 66 alignment through Springfield | Springfield | Highlights Route 66 heritage sites |
| U.S. Route 67 Business (Alton) | 8 | U.S. Route 67 | Loops through downtown Alton | Alton | Passes near the Alton Marina and Great River Road |
| U.S. Route 34 Business (Galesburg) | 5.5 | U.S. Route 34 | Runs through the center of Galesburg | Galesburg | Connects to Knox College and local businesses |
| U.S. Route 136 Business (Rantoul) | 4 | U.S. Route 136 | Provides access to Rantoul and the former Chanute Air Force Base | Rantoul | Serves local traffic and regional points of interest |
| U.S. Route 45 Bypass (Mattoon) | 6.5 | U.S. Route 45 | Bypasses the central business district of Mattoon | Mattoon | Reduces congestion in downtown Mattoon |
The Illinois State Highway System is an extensive network of highways that spans over 16,000 miles, connecting urban centers, rural areas, and neighboring states. Managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), this system includes state routes, expressways, and highways that serve as critical infrastructure for commerce, travel, and regional connectivity. Illinois’s strategic location in the Midwest makes its highways vital for both intrastate and interstate transportation.
