Origin
Bethany, IL
Late night in Bethany on Tuesday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethany, IL to Springfield, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
57.8 mi
93 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethany, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bethany, IL to Springfield, IL is 57.8 miles and takes about 1h 13m via US 36, IL 121, and US 51, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop across Illinois takes you from the Midwest region to the same region, staying within the state of Illinois. It's a straightforward highway-focused drive, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a lot of fuss. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, making it a reliable option for a quick trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 36 | 30.5 mi | 32m |
| IL 121 | 11.3 mi | 15m |
| US 51 | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| East Elwin Road | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Clear Lake Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| South Business Route 51 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 36
— 30.5 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethany, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on this road
101 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto North Lincoln Street
274 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Lincoln Street
3
Turn left onto West North Water Street
272 ft
·
14 sec
·
West North Water Street
4
Turn right onto North Washington Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto IL 121
11 mi
·
15 min
·
IL 121
6
Turn left onto CTH 30
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on CTH 30
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
East Elwin Road
8
Turn right onto US 51 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Business Route 51
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward US 51 North: Springfield, Bloomington
10
Merge onto US 51
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
US 51
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Springfield
12
Merge onto US 36
31 mi
·
32 min
·
US 36
13
Continue on IL 97
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft
·
18 sec
·
North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.9 miles from Bethany, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.6 — 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
|
North Lincoln Street
Turn right onto North Lincoln Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Washington Street
Turn right onto North Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
18.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the ramp toward US 51 North: Springfield, Bloomington
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 51 North: Springfield, Bloomington
6
57.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
57.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.04 one way
$18.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.92 | $19.84 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.12 | $22.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.76 | $25.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.07 | $2.77 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.06 | $2.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.09 | $3.70 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Springfield, IL
Late night in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
SSE 7 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
1h 13m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 82% of the journey utilizing faster roads. You'll experience stretches where the speed limit is higher and the landscape may blend into a more uniform presentation. The longest continuous segment on this route is 30.5 miles, primarily on US 36. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal distractions, ideal for making good time. The route generally maintains a steady pace, allowing you to settle into a rhythm.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.5 mi on US 36.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 36 and IL 121. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Lincoln Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 57.8 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (North Lincoln Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.3 miles: 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.
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 Bethany, IL to Springfield, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Bloomington along the way.
Bloomington
18.3 mi in
|
~27m
About the Cities
Starting in Bethany, IL
Full guide →Arriving in Springfield, IL
Full guide →Founded 1840
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 57.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.5 miles on US 36. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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.
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 (North Lincoln Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.3 miles: 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Springfield, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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