The Cost of a Trip Between Charleston, Illinois and Sidney, Nebraska: A Guide based on Current Gas Prices
If you're planning on driving from Charleston, Illinois to Sidney, Nebraska, you're probably curious about how much it will cost you in gas and how long it will take. Luckily, we've done the research for you and have broken down the different possible routes with their respective costs and distances.
Possible Routes
There are a few different routes you can take between Charleston, Illinois and Sidney, Nebraska, but we'll focus on the three most obvious: I-70 West, I-72 West, and US-36 West.
I-70 West
The shortest route in terms of distance is taking I-70 West all the way to Sidney. It is approximately 690 miles and takes around 10 hours and 35 minutes to drive without stopping. However, this route has the highest toll fees. From Charleston to Sidney, you'll go through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado, and in order to take this route, you'll have to pay a total of $97.20 in toll fees and approximately $115.09 in gas, assuming an average gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon and a gas price of $3.00 per gallon.
I-72 West
Taking I-72 West instead of I-70 West will add a little over 100 miles to your trip, but it will also save you a significant amount of money in toll fees. This route takes you through Illinois and Missouri and has no toll fees at all. It is approximately 800 miles and takes around 12 hours and 25 minutes to drive without stopping. The cost of gas for this route is approximately $136.20, assuming an average gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon and a gas price of $3.00 per gallon.
US-36 West
While the previous two routes take you through several states, taking US-36 West will keep you mostly in Illinois and Missouri. This route is the longest of the three, at approximately 900 miles, and will take around 13 hours and 25 minutes to drive without stopping. However, it is the cheapest option in terms of gas cost, at approximately $105.84 assuming an average gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon and a gas price of $3.00 per gallon. There are no toll fees for this route.
Recommended Route
While each of the three possible routes has its advantages and drawbacks, we recommend taking I-72 West. Although it adds over 100 miles to the trip, it's the cheapest option in terms of both toll fees and gas cost, meaning you'll save money overall. This route also avoids the high toll fees of I-70 West and has gas stations and rest stops along the way, making it a more comfortable and convenient choice.
Conclusion
Driving from Charleston, Illinois to Sidney, Nebraska is no small feat, but by taking I-72 West, you can save money overall and still get where you need to go in roughly 12 hours. All in all, the cost of the trip will depend on your gas mileage, the gas prices at the time of your trip, and the route you choose, but with this information, you can make an informed decision about how to get from point A to point B. Safe travels!