Alden, IL to Springfield, IL is 227.7 miles and takes about 4h 18m via I 39 and I 55, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Given its duration and mostly highway profile, it’s a straightforward drive suitable for a single day. You’ll be on major interstates for most of the way, making it an efficient option for reaching Springfield from northern Illinois.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
113.9 miles from Alden, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 39
122.4 mi
2h 11m
I 55
59.5 mi
1h 3m
West Brink Street
12.4 mi
17m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
8.3 mi
8m
US 51
7.6 mi
8m
IL 173
6.1 mi
8m
State Route 173
5.6 mi
7m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 122.4 mi, about 2h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alden, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on V12
11 ft·7 sec·Alden Road
2
Turn left onto IL 173
6.1 mi·8 min·IL 173
3
Turn left onto US 14; IL 173
0.5 mi·49 sec·North Division Street
4
Turn right onto IL 173
12 mi·17 min·West Brink Street
5
Continue on IL 173
5.6 mi·7 min·State Route 173
6
Continue on IL 173
1.5 mi·2 min·West Lane Road
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
8
Merge onto I 39; I 90; US 51
8.3 mi·8 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; US 51
0.8 mi·52 sec·I 39; US 51
Toward I 39, US 51 South: Bloomington
10
Continue on I 39; US 20; US 51
2.1 mi·2 min·I 39; US 20; US 51
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; US 51
119 mi·2 hr 8 min·I 39; US 51
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51
7.6 mi·8 min·US 51
Toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
60 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
15
Merge onto IL 97
2.1 mi·4 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal, allowing you to reach Springfield with plenty of time. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 122.4-mile stretch on I 39, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is around $36, so plan accordingly before you depart Alden.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 113.9 miles from Alden, IL, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 50 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.9 miles or 2h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springfield, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alden, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alden, IL
This is one driving day of about 227.7 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Alden, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 39 for about 122.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 35 and 227.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
35 mi into trip|~47m in|I 39; US 51
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; US 51 toward I 39, US 51 South: Bloomington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 39, US 51 South: Bloomington
6
157.4 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|US 51
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51 toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champai...
8
165 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
6
227.5 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
227.6 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.60 one way
$71.20 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$39.09
$78.17
premium
$4.89
$43.82
$87.64
diesel
$5.61
$50.27
$100.55
Estimated Tolls: $0.58
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(8.3 mi)$0.58
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.3
0
$23.91
$10.93
Efficient EV
56.9
0
$19.92
$9.11
EV Truck/SUV
91.1
1
$31.88
$14.57
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Alden, IL
Late night
in Alden on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Late night
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 18m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 88% of the 227.7 miles on interstates. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 122.4 miles on I 39. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface streets, specifically West Brink Street, as you approach your destination. Expect a fairly seamless drive for the majority of the trip, with most of the mileage concentrated on faster roads.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.4 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and I 55. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35 miles in near I 39; US 51.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 227.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 35 miles (I 39; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 157.4 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 165 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Alden, IL and Springfield, IL, road signs point toward Champaign, Saint Louis and Decatur.
Springfield is a city in the center of the state of Illinois. It is the state's capital — not Chicago — and the county seat of Sangamon County. Springfield is best known for its most famous resident, Abraham Lincoln, and there are several historic sites that are dedicated to him.
Top landmarks
•Illinois State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Illinois
•Lincoln Tomb — tomb of U.S. president Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, United States
•Lincoln Home National Historic Site — national historic site in Illinois, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 227.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.4 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.58 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Springfield, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 35 miles (I 39; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 157.4 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 165 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
