The Cost of Driving from Deerfield to Streator: Exploring Routes Based on Gas Prices
Planning a road trip from Deerfield, Illinois, to Streator, Illinois? Great choice! This journey offers a mix of beautiful scenery and small-town charm. However, understanding the costs involved—especially with current gas prices—can help you budget your trip better. Let’s dive into some potential routes, their distances, estimated travel times, and the gas costs you can expect.
Route 1: The Direct Highway Route
The most straightforward route you can take is via I-55 South, which provides a smooth and quick drive.
- Distance: Approximately 100 miles
- Time: About 1 hour and 40 minutes
- Estimated Cost:
To calculate the cost, let's assume the current gas price is around $3.50 per gallon. If your car averages 30 miles per gallon, you’ll need about 3.33 gallons for the trip. Here’s how the cost breaks down:
[ \text = 3.33 , \text \times 3.50 , \text{(price per gallon)} = $11.66 ]
This route is straightforward without any tolls, making it easy to budget around $11.66 for gas.
Route 2: The Scenic Backroads
If you prefer a more scenic drive, consider taking IL-2 South towards Streator. This route has fewer highways and offers a chance to see local attractions.
- Distance: Approximately 105 miles
- Time: About 2 hours and 10 minutes
- Estimated Cost:
Using the same gas price of $3.50 per gallon and assuming your car again averages 30 miles per gallon, you'll need around 3.5 gallons for this trip:
[ \text = 3.5 , \text \times 3.50 , \text{(price per gallon)} = $12.25 ]
This route doesn’t involve any tolls, so you’re looking at around $12.25 for gas.
Route 3: The Toll Route for Faster Travel
For those in a hurry, you might opt for the route that uses I-55 but includes some tolls to shave off some travel time.
- Distance: Approximately 95 miles
- Time: About 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Estimated Cost:
This route has some tolls, costing approximately $3.50 for all the tolls combined. With the same gas price of $3.50 per gallon and fuel economy, the calculation remains similar:
[ \text = \frac{95}{30} \times 3.50 \approx $11.08 ]
Adding in the tolls brings your total cost to about:
[ \text = 11.08 + 3.50 = $14.58 ]
Here, you will spend around $14.58 in total, making it a speedy but slightly pricier option.
Conclusion
Ultimately, your choice of route from Deerfield to Streator can greatly influence the cost of your trip, especially with the fluctuations in gas prices. Whether you stick to the straightforward drive along I-55, enjoy the scenic backroads, or take the faster toll route, understanding the distances, times, and costs will help you plan better. Safe travels, and enjoy your journey through Illinois!