Primary route
I-57
Sikeston to Chicago
Length385.9 mi
Designated1961
States2
Junctions8
About I-57
From Sikeston, MO (I-55) to Chicago, IL (I-94)
Interstate 57 is a north-south route running about 386 miles from Sikeston, Missouri, north across Illinois to Chicago. It begins at a junction with I-55 in southeastern Missouri, crosses the Mississippi River into Illinois near Cairo, and runs the length of the state through Mount Vernon and Champaign before reaching the Chicago area. The route provides a direct inland path through the heart of Illinois.
Most of the corridor lies in Illinois, passing through agricultural land and smaller cities in the central and southern parts of the state. It connects the Chicago region with the Mississippi River crossing at the southern tip of Illinois, offering an alternative to the river-following I-55. Near Chicago the route ties into the dense metropolitan freeway network.
State-by-state mileage
| State | Miles |
|---|---|
| Missouri | 21.7 |
| Illinois | 364.2 |
| Total | 385.9 |
History
Interstate 57 was designated in 1961 and built across Illinois over the following years, linking Chicago with the southern tip of the state and the connection to I-55 in Missouri. It was constructed largely as new highway rather than along a single older route.
Major cities and places
SikestonCairoMount VernonChampaignChicago
Did you know
- Designated in 1961 and located mostly within Illinois.
- Connects Chicago with the Mississippi River crossing near Cairo.
- One of the longer two-digit Interstates with no auxiliary routes.
- Provides an inland alternative to the river-following I-55.