Traveling from Crestwood to Springfield covers 183.5 miles through the heart of the Midwest, making for a manageable trip that typically takes 3 hours and 48 minutes. Because this is a straightforward drive, it works perfectly as a one-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $28 for fuel to complete the journey. The route transitions across the Illinois landscape, providing a consistent driving experience from start to finish. Since the trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience and settle into your destination by the afternoon.
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
91.7 miles from Crestwood, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ken Gray Expressway
70.9 mi
1h 16m
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
— 70.9 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crestwood, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on Pinewood Drive
385 ft·19 sec·Pinewood Drive
2
Turn right onto Ridgeway
283 ft·18 sec·Ridgeway
3
Turn left onto McKinney Chapel Road
255 ft·11 sec·McKinney Chapel Road
4
Continue on McKinney Chapel Road
0.5 mi·1 min·McKinney Chapel Road
5
Turn right onto Power Plant Road
2.7 mi·6 min·Power Plant Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto Lake Egypt Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Lake Egypt Road
7
Turn left onto IL 37
0.3 mi·31 sec·IL 37
8
At end of road, turn right onto IL 148
0.4 mi·41 sec·IL 148
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
10
Merge onto I 57
50 mi·54 min·Ken Gray Expressway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
20 mi·22 min·Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval
13
Merge onto US 50
2.4 mi·2 min·West Main Street
14
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·East Poplar Street
15
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·Poplar
16
Turn right onto US 51
10 mi·11 min·150E
17
Continue on US 51
13 mi·15 min·300E
18
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi·35 sec·US 40; US 51; IL 185
19
Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
1.6 mi·1 min·North Kennedy Boulevard
20
Continue on US 51
11 mi·12 min·County Road 875 East
21
Continue on US 51
15 mi·17 min·South Superior Street
22
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 2400 East
23
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi·2 min·Fair Avenue
24
Continue on US 51
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Poplar Street
25
Turn left onto IL 16
0.4 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
26
Turn right onto South State Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·South State Street
27
Turn left onto IL 29
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Washington Street
28
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·N 2000 East Road
29
Continue on IL 29
5.1 mi·7 min·State Route 29
30
Continue on East Park Street
5.3 mi·7 min·East Park Street
31
Turn right onto IL 29
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Webster Street
32
Continue on IL 29
16 mi·18 min·West Springfield Road
Use the straight lane.
33
Continue on IL 29
1.3 mi·1 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
34
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
35
Continue on IL 29
1.1 mi·1 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
36
Turn straight onto IL 29
1.0 mi·2 min·IL 29
37
Turn left onto IL 97
1.8 mi·3 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the left lane.
38
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
40
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
41
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 48 minute journey, aim to leave early in the day to navigate traffic patterns effectively. Since the route includes one planned stop, use that break to refuel and stretch your legs, especially after finishing the longest 70.9-mile stretch on the Ken Gray Expressway. Keep your $28 fuel budget in mind as you plan your stops, as prices can fluctuate between the expressway and local roads. Because the total distance is under 200 miles, you have plenty of freedom to adjust your pace based on how you feel behind the wheel. Always prioritize checking your fuel levels before leaving the expressway, as services may be more spaced out once you transition to South Superior Street.
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 91.7 miles from Crestwood, IL, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.9 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 40 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.7 miles or 1h 48m 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 2m
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 Crestwood, 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 Crestwood, IL
This is one driving day of about 183.5 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Crestwood, 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 70.9 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 183.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Ridgeway
Turn right onto Ridgeway
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|McKinney Chapel Road
Turn left onto McKinney Chapel Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.4 mi into trip|~9m in|Lake Egypt Road
At end of road, turn left onto Lake Egypt Road
Navigation decision point
6
183.3 mi into trip|~3h 47m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
183.3 mi into trip|~3h 47m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.69 one way
$57.38 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.50
$63.00
premium
$4.89
$35.31
$70.63
diesel
$5.61
$40.51
$81.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.1
0
$19.27
$8.81
Efficient EV
45.9
0
$16.06
$7.34
EV Truck/SUV
73.4
0
$25.69
$11.74
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 17, 2026
Origin
Crestwood, IL
Morning
in Crestwood on Sunday
Local time
9:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Morning
in Springfield on Sunday
Local time
9:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Brownstown, IL
92 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 48m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed drive profile, requiring you to balance highway cruising with local road navigation. You will spend about 47% of your time on major highways, including a significant 70.9-mile stretch along the Ken Gray Expressway. The remainder of your journey involves transitions onto West Springfield Road and South Superior Street. Expect the road to shift personality as you move off the primary expressway and into the more localized segments of the route. This variety keeps the drive engaging, as you aren't stuck on a monotonous interstate for the entire duration.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.9 mi on Ken Gray Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Ridgeway.
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 19 significant decision points across 183.5 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 0.1 miles (Ridgeway): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (McKinney Chapel Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (Lake Egypt Road): 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 Crestwood, 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 48m. Total distance: 183.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.9 miles on Ken Gray Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (Ridgeway): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (McKinney Chapel Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (Lake Egypt Road): 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 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
