Arcola, IL to Springfield, IL is 82.5 miles and takes about 1h 53m via United States Route 36, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within the Midwest, specifically remaining in Illinois for the entire journey. It's a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently, without much fuss. Given its relatively short length and direct path, it's well-suited for a same-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.3 miles from Arcola, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
United States Route 36
63 mi
1h 21m
County Road 950 North
8.9 mi
13m
North Chestnut Street
7.4 mi
11m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
1m
East Washington Street
0.1 mi
<1m
East Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
North 7th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
United States Route 36
— 63 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arcola, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on North Locust Street
170 ft·9 sec·North Locust Street
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·East Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 45
7.4 mi·11 min·North Chestnut Street
4
Turn left
0.1 mi·35 sec
5
Turn sharp left onto US 36
8.9 mi·13 min·County Road 950 North
6
Continue on US 36
63 mi·1 hr 21 min·United States Route 36
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on IL 97
2.3 mi·4 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is just under two hours, you have considerable flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Arcola in the morning should get you to Springfield with plenty of daylight remaining. With only 82.5 miles and a low fuel cost of around $13, you likely won't need many stops. However, it's always wise to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that 63-mile stretch on US-36. Consider packing some snacks and drinks to make the most of the minimal time spent on the road.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.3 miles from Arcola, IL, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.3 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 34m
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 Arcola, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arcola, IL
This is one driving day of about 82.5 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Arcola, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on United States Route 36 for about 63 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 82.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Main Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 45 / North Chestnut Street
Turn right onto US 45 / North Chestnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.7 mi into trip|~12m in|US 36 / County Road 950 North
Turn sharp left onto US 36 / County Road 950 North
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
82.3 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.90 one way
$25.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.16
$28.32
premium
$4.89
$15.88
$31.75
diesel
$5.61
$18.21
$36.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.66
$3.96
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.22
$3.30
EV Truck/SUV
33
0
$11.55
$5.28
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Arcola, IL
Morning
in Arcola on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Morning
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 14 to 17 mph98% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 6:23PM CDT until April 17 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued April 17 at 6:23PM CDT until April 17 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
22 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 53m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive is primarily focused on highway travel, with 76% of the journey utilizing major roads like United States Route 36. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 63 miles on US-36, offering a consistent pace for much of the trip. While the profile is highway-focused, expect a blend as you navigate through County Road 950 North and North Chestnut Street, which may offer a slightly different driving experience. The overall character is one of steady progress rather than winding backroads.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63 mi on United States Route 36.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on United States Route 36 and County Road 950 North. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Arcola, IL to Springfield, IL is easy. At 1h 53m with 76% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 45 / North Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles (US 36 / County Road 950 North): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Arcola is a city in the Central Illinois region of Illinois with about 2,900 residents in 2020. Visitors will get a sense of small-town Midwest as they walk or drive down the streets of Arcola. The countryside surrounding the city houses the largest Amish population in Illinois with many small shops operated by Amish craftsmen in and around the area.
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
The longest stretch is about 63 miles on United States Route 36. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 45 / North Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles (US 36 / County Road 950 North): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Springfield, IL before heading back.
