Interstate 70 runs east-northeast across downstate Illinois, from St. Louis to Terre Haute, Indiana, and toward Indianapolis. It runs across the northern extent of what I'd consider "southern Illinois." It passes through Vandalia and Effingham along the way.
Interstate 70 enters Illinois crossing the Mississippi River out of St. Louis, Missouri, using the Stan Musial Bridge:
Interstate 70 enters Illinois crossing the Mississippi River out of St. Louis, Missouri, using the Stan Musial Bridge:
Exit 2 is somewhat of a half-folded diamond interchange to Fairmont City Boulevard, providing a link to Illinois 3 and the industrial areas right near the Interstate 70 bridge:
Exit 3 provides access to the east along Interstate 64 toward Louisville, as Interstate 70 joins Interstate 55 and US Route 40:
Exit 4 along Interstate 70, as well as Interstate 55 and US Route 40, is for Illinois 203, with access to Granite City and Fairmont City:
Exit 6 is for Illinois 111, to Wood River and Washington Park:
Exit 9, which only accesses Interstate 70 to/from the west, is a ramp to Black Lane:
Exit 10 is for Interstate 255, and the ramp splits into a right-curving ramp and a flyover ramp; one is for Interstate 255 northbound toward "Interstate 270," and the other is for Interstate 255 south toward Memphis:
Exit 11 is a fountain interchange with Illinois 157, providing a connection to Collinsville and Edwardsville:
Exit 15A is for Illinois 159 south toward Collinsville:
Exit 15B is the second half of the cloverleaf, leading to Illinois 159 north toward Maryville:
Exit 17 allows US Route 40 to split from Interstates 55 and 70, so it can exist as a surface road connecting to St. Jacob and Highland:
Exit 18 is a single-point interchange (SPUI) to Illinois 162 and Troy:
Exit 20A gives Interstate 70 the chance to continue east toward Indianapolis independently of Interstate 55:
Exit 15B is next, as Interstate 70 resumes its own exit number system after using the exit numbering system of Interstate 55; this exit 15B accesses Interstate 270, which is signed as heading west toward Kansas City:
Six miles later, exit 21 provides access to Illinois 4, Lebanon, and Staunton:
Exit 24 is to Illinois 143, connecting to Marine and Highland, Illinois:
At Exit 30, US Route 40 joins from the southwest, and Illinois 143 is nearby; however, Illinois 143 and the town of Pierron are mentioned on the exit signage:
Exit 36 links to the town of Pocahontas, and sends US Route 40 east on its own road again:
Exit 41 is a fountain interchange connecting to Greenville (via the adjacent US Route 40):
Exit 45 is another fountain interchange, accessing Illinois 127 to Greenville and Carlyle:
Exit 52 is for Mulberry Grove and Keyesport:
Exit 61 provides access to US Route 40 and Vandalia:
Exit 63 is a diamond interchange US Route 51, signed as a link to Vandalia and Pana (use this exit to access Illinois 185):
Exit 68 connects to US Route 40, Brownstown, and Bluff City:
Exit 76 provides access to the town of St. Elmo:
Exit 82 is for the southern end of Illinois 128, and for Altamont:
Exit 92 is a ramp to Interstate 57 south, at an interchange where Interstate 70 and Interstate 57 join together north around Effingham:
The next exit is exit 159, because Interstate 57's exit numbers take precedence here, and it leads to Fayette Avenue in Effingham:
Exit 162 is a fountain interchange to US Route 45, leading to Sigel and Effingham:
Interstate 70 returns to its own exit numbering scheme now, as exit 98 provides access to Interstate 57 north, at the split between the two Interstates:
Exit 105 provides access to Montrose:
Exit 119 is for Illinois 130, which links to Greenup and Charleston:
Exit 129 is a connection to Illinois 49, which can take travelers to Casey and the village of Kansas, Illinois:
Exit 136 is a way to reach Martinsville:
Exit 147 allows access to Illinois 1, Marshall, and Paris:
Exit 154 reaches US Route 40, which joins from the west just before the crossing into Indiana:
After spending 155 miles in the state of Illinois, Interstate 70 crosses into Indiana about 5 miles west of Terre Haute and the Wabash River: