The drive from Durand, IL to Springfield, IL covers 216.7 miles and takes about 4h 5m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 39, I 55, U.S. Grant Memorial Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 118.2 miles on I 39.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
108.4 miles from Durand, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 39
118.2 mi
2h 6m
I 55
59.5 mi
1h 3m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
9.4 mi
10m
Trask Bridge Road
9 mi
12m
US 51
7.6 mi
8m
North Meridian Road
4.6 mi
8m
South Center Road
3.8 mi
5m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 118.2 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durand, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on North Center Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·North Center Street
2
Continue on IL 70
3.8 mi·5 min·South Center Road
3
Continue on IL 70
9.0 mi·12 min·Trask Bridge Road
4
Turn right onto CH 24
2.7 mi·4 min·North Meridian Road
5
Enter roundabout onto North Meridian Road
156 ft·8 sec·North Meridian Road
6
Continue on North Meridian Road
1.9 mi·3 min·North Meridian Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
8
Merge onto US 20
9.4 mi·10 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Toward US 20 East: Chicago
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
10
Merge onto I 39; US 51
118 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 39; US 51
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51
7.6 mi·8 min·US 51
Toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
12
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.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
14
Merge onto IL 97
2.1 mi·4 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
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 108.4 miles from Durand, IL, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.2 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 48 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.4 miles or 2h 6m 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 20m
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 Durand, 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 Durand, IL
This is one driving day of about 216.7 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Durand, 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 39 for about 118.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 216.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.9 mi into trip|~23m in|North Meridian Road
Enter roundabout onto North Meridian Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
146.4 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|US 51
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51 toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champaign, Saint Louis, Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South, US 51 South: Peoria, Champai...
8
154 mi into trip|~2h 54m 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
216.5 mi into trip|~4h 5m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
216.6 mi into trip|~4h 5m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.88 one way
$67.76 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.20
$74.39
premium
$4.89
$41.70
$83.40
diesel
$5.61
$47.84
$95.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
40 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger
Peru, IL
Tesla
20 DCFC
County Market - Tesla Supercharger
Springfield, IL
Tesla
16 DCFC
Eleventh Street Plaza Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65
0
$22.75
$10.40
Efficient EV
54.2
0
$18.96
$8.67
EV Truck/SUV
86.7
1
$30.34
$13.87
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Durand, IL
Morning
in Durand on Sunday
Local time
9:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Morning
in Springfield on Sunday
Local time
9:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
9 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
4h 5m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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?
216.7 mi in 4h 5m, mostly highway — 118.2 mi of that is on I 39.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.2 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and I 55. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.9 miles in near North Meridian Road.
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 216.7 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: at 15.9 miles (North Meridian Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 146.4 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 154 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between Durand, IL and Springfield, IL, road signs point toward Champaign, Saint Louis and Decatur.
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 4h 5m. Total distance: 216.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.2 miles on I 39. 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 15.9 miles (North Meridian Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 146.4 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 154 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
