Crest Hill, IL to Springfield, IL is 164.8 miles and takes about 3 hours 6 minutes via I 55 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip primarily within the Midwest, connecting two points in Illinois. Given its relatively short duration and highway nature, it’s an ideal route for a single-day journey. Plan for efficient travel with minimal detours, making it a practical option for business or leisure travel between these 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
82.4 miles from Crest Hill, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
152.5 mi
2h 44m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
North Larkin Avenue
2.6 mi
5m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
Theodore Street
1.4 mi
3m
East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
1m
Oakland Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
East Washington Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 152.5 mi, about 2h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crest Hill, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on Oakland Avenue
0.2 mi·39 sec·Oakland Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto IL 7
1.4 mi·3 min·Theodore Street
3
Turn left onto IL 7
2.6 mi·5 min·North Larkin Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 80 West: Moline-Rock IslandUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 126AToward I 55 South: Saint Louis
7
Merge onto I 55
93 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 55
Use the right lane.
8
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.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
10
Merge onto IL 97
2.1 mi·4 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour drive time, starting your journey in Crest Hill anytime after morning rush hour will allow for a smooth departure. With only one recommended stop and a 152.5-mile longest stretch, you can easily complete this trip in one day without needing to split the driving. Keep an eye on your fuel levels as you approach Springfield, as the longest stretch on I-55 might mean fewer immediate services compared to shorter interstate segments. This drive's efficiency means you have flexibility in your departure time.
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 82.4 miles from Crest Hill, IL, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152.5 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 36 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.4 miles or 1h 34m 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 31m
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 Crest Hill, 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 Crest Hill, IL
This is one driving day of about 164.8 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Crest Hill, 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 55 for about 152.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 164.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 7 / Theodore Street
At end of road, turn right onto IL 7 / Theodore Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.2 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West: Moline-Rock Island
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 80 West: Moline-Rock Island
8
102.1 mi into trip|~1h 56m 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
164.6 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
164.6 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.76 one way
$51.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.29
$56.58
premium
$4.89
$31.71
$63.43
diesel
$5.61
$36.39
$72.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.4
0
$17.30
$7.91
Efficient EV
41.2
0
$14.42
$6.59
EV Truck/SUV
65.9
0
$23.07
$10.55
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Crest Hill, IL
Late night
in Crest Hill on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Late night
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Bloomington, IL
82 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
6 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 6m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
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 a highway drive, with 95% of the journey taking place on major interstates like I-55 and I-80. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including one uninterrupted segment of 152.5 miles on I-55. The initial part of the drive may involve local roads like North Larkin Avenue before merging onto the interstate system. Expect a functional, high-speed transit experience rather than a winding scenic tour.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 152.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 80. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near IL 7 / Theodore Street.
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 164.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles (IL 7 / Theodore Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 102.1 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 6m. Total distance: 164.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 152.5 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (IL 7 / Theodore Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 102.1 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 and Pullman National Historical Park. 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 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
