Origin
Decatur, IL
Late night in Decatur on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Decatur, 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
48m
Distance
39.2 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Decatur, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Decatur to Springfield, this 38.9-mile transit takes approximately 41 minutes to complete. Because the trip is quite short, you can easily handle it as a quick day excursion without needing to worry about overnight logistics. Budgeting around $6 for fuel should cover your travel costs between these two Midwest hubs. You will primarily navigate via South Franklin Street, West Eldorado Street, and Clear Lake Avenue. This route serves as a straightforward connection within Illinois, making it ideal for those who prefer local roads over interstate travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Eldorado Street | 35.8 mi | 40m |
| Clear Lake Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Franklin Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Wood Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Eldorado Street
— 35.8 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on East Wood Street
507 ft
·
23 sec
·
East Wood Street
2
Turn left onto US 51 Business
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Franklin Street
3
Turn left onto US 36
36 mi
·
40 min
·
West Eldorado Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on IL 97
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft
·
18 sec
·
North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.6 miles from Decatur, 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
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 39 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 51 Business / South Franklin Street
Turn left onto US 51 Business / South Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 36 / West Eldorado Street
Turn left onto US 36 / West Eldorado Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
38.9 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
39 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.13 one way
$12.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.73 | $13.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.54 | $15.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.65 | $17.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.12 | $1.88 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Riverton, IL
20 mi in
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
3 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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged throughout the entire 41-minute journey. Because this route involves zero highway miles, you won’t find any long, monotonous stretches of high-speed pavement here. The longest uninterrupted section is 0 miles on South Franklin Street, meaning you will be navigating frequent intersections and turns rather than cruising. It is a practical, utilitarian drive that prioritizes local connectivity over highway speed. Keep your focus sharp as you transition between these city streets.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.8 mi on West Eldorado Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 51 Business / South Franklin Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 48m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 51 Business / South Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 36 / West Eldorado Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.9 miles (North 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
693 ft
554 ft
Total Climb
155 ft
Total Descent
233 ft
Highest Point
693 ft
~5.6 mi in
Elevation Range
139 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Decatur, IL
Full guide →Founded 1823
Decatur is a city in Macon county, Illinois. There are many examples of Frank Lloyd Wright's influence on the Prairie Style Architecture in Decatur.
Top landmarks
- • Decatur Downtown Historic District — historic district in Decatur, Illinois
- • Decatur Historic District — historic district in Decatur, Illinois
- • Wabash Railroad Station and Railway Express Agency — railway station in Decatur, Illinois, United States
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 48m. Total distance: 39.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.8 miles on West Eldorado Street. 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: at 0.1 miles (US 51 Business / South Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 36 / West Eldorado Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.9 miles (North 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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