This 152.6-mile drive from Benton, IL to Springfield, IL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, it's an economical journey through the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes the Ken Gray Expressway and West Springfield Road, offering a mixed driving experience. You'll find this drive straightforward and practical, making it a convenient option for a quick excursion or a leg of a larger Midwest adventure. Consider this a solid choice if you're looking for an uncomplicated trip between these two Illinois locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.3 miles from Benton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ken Gray Expressway
44.4 mi
48m
West Springfield Road
15.7 mi
18m
South Superior Street
15.1 mi
17m
300E
13.5 mi
15m
County Road 875 East
11.1 mi
12m
150E
10.4 mi
11m
IL 29
8.8 mi
12m
N 2000 East Road
5.4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Ken Gray Expressway
— 44.4 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on IL 14; IL 37
437 ft·10 sec·Public Square
2
Continue on IL 14
0.6 mi·55 sec·West Main Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
4
Merge onto I 57
24 mi·26 min·Ken Gray Expressway
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
20 mi·22 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
7
Merge onto US 50
2.4 mi·2 min·West Main Street
8
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·East Poplar Street
9
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·Poplar
10
Turn right onto US 51
10 mi·11 min·150E
11
Continue on US 51
13 mi·15 min·300E
12
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi·35 sec·US 40; US 51; IL 185
13
Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
1.6 mi·1 min·North Kennedy Boulevard
14
Continue on US 51
11 mi·12 min·County Road 875 East
15
Continue on US 51
15 mi·17 min·South Superior Street
16
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 2400 East
17
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi·2 min·Fair Avenue
18
Continue on US 51
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Poplar Street
19
Turn left onto IL 16
0.4 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
20
Turn right onto South State Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·South State Street
21
Turn left onto IL 29
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Washington Street
22
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·N 2000 East Road
23
Continue on IL 29
5.1 mi·7 min·State Route 29
24
Continue on East Park Street
5.3 mi·7 min·East Park Street
25
Turn right onto IL 29
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Webster Street
26
Continue on IL 29
16 mi·18 min·West Springfield Road
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on IL 29
1.3 mi·1 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
28
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on IL 29
1.1 mi·1 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
30
Turn straight onto IL 29
1.0 mi·2 min·IL 29
31
Turn left onto IL 97
1.8 mi·3 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
34
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
35
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 3-hour duration, this trip offers flexibility; you can leave whenever suits your schedule. Plan for one main stop if needed, perhaps around the halfway point, to break up the 152.6 miles. With a fuel cost of around $24, topping up your tank before you leave Benton is a sensible approach. Pay attention to the transition from highway driving on the Ken Gray Expressway to the less direct roads like West Springfield Road as you get closer to Springfield. This route is best enjoyed with a relaxed pace, allowing you to appreciate the subtle changes in scenery and road type.
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 76.3 miles from Benton, IL, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.4 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 34 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.3 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 29m
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 Benton, 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 Benton, IL
This is one driving day of about 152.6 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Benton, 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 Ken Gray Expressway for about 44.4 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 25 and 152.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
25 mi into trip|~27m in|I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
45.4 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
5
109.2 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|IL 29 / West Washington Street
Turn left onto IL 29 / West Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
152.4 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
152.5 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.86 one way
$47.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.19
$52.39
premium
$4.89
$29.37
$58.73
diesel
$5.61
$33.69
$67.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.8
0
$16.02
$7.32
Efficient EV
38.2
0
$13.35
$6.10
EV Truck/SUV
61
0
$21.36
$9.77
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 18, 2026
Origin
Benton, IL
Morning
in Benton on Tuesday
Local time
11:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Morning
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
11:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
NW 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
70°F
Brownstown, IL
76 mi in
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
1 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
3h 8m 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?
The drive is characterized as a 'Mixed drive,' with 39% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Ken Gray Expressway, including one uninterrupted segment of 44.4 miles, which likely offers a more consistent pace. The inclusion of roads like West Springfield Road and South Superior Street suggests a transition to more local or perhaps slower-paced driving as you approach your destination. This blend means you can expect both efficient highway travel and more varied road conditions, keeping the driving experience dynamic.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.4 mi on Ken Gray Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 25 miles in near I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 152.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 25 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.2 miles (IL 29 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Benton, IL to Springfield, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Sandoval along the way.
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 3h 8m. Total distance: 152.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.4 miles on Ken Gray Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 25 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.2 miles (IL 29 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
