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Spatial and Temporal Trends of Access to Birthing Hospitals in Illinois, 2016–2021
ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 23 — August 20, 2026
PEER REVIEWED
Driving time to the nearest in-state birthing hospital was not evenly distributed across the state and varied even within large metropolitan areas. Travel times were generally shorter in urban areas than in rural regions. Census tracts located near state borders, particularly in western and southeastern Illinois, had longer driving times to the nearest in-state birthing hospital, reaching up to 85 minutes.
Figure 1. Average driving time to the nearest birthing hospital in Illinois per census tract in 2021.
Most census tracts experienced no change in driving time, and a small number experienced decreases. Increases in driving time were not evenly distributed across the state but were concentrated in some areas, including areas near Chicago, East St. Louis, Kankakee, Carbondale, and Moline. In rural regions, particularly in southern and western Illinois, increases tended to affect larger, more contiguous areas, whereas in urban areas, increases were more localized.
Figure 2. Difference in average driving time from census tracts in Illinois to the nearest in-state birthing hospital per census tract, 2016 to 2021.
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