Connecting Edwardsville to Springfield, this 80-mile Midwestern journey typically takes about 1 hour and 18 minutes to complete. It is a straightforward trip that fits easily into a single day, making it an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a quick turnaround rather than an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at $12, the route is budget-friendly and efficient for your transit across Illinois. You will transition from East Vandalia Street and Marine Road before jumping onto I-55 North to cover the bulk of the distance. Because this trip is short and direct, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to reach your destination without the fatigue of a multi-day haul.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.9 miles from Edwardsville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
68.8 mi
1h 13m
I 55 Business
4.6 mi
10m
Marine Road
2.5 mi
4m
IL 143
0.6 mi
<1m
East Vandalia Street
0.6 mi
1m
East Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Old State Capitol Plaza
<0.1 mi
<1m
South Buchanan Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 68.8 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Edwardsville, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on South Buchanan Street
120 ft·6 sec·South Buchanan Street
2
Turn right onto IL 143; IL 157
0.6 mi·1 min·East Vandalia Street
3
Continue on IL 143
2.5 mi·4 min·Marine Road
4
Turn left onto IL 143
0.6 mi·58 sec·IL 143
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 55
69 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield
7
Take the exit onto I 55 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·I 55 Business
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business
0.2 mi·16 sec·I 55 Business
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business
3.8 mi·8 min·I 55 Business
Toward I 55 Business North: SpringfieldUse the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on East Old State Capitol Plaza
409 ft·15 sec·East Old State Capitol Plaza
11
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this 80-mile drive is relatively short, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever fits your schedule best. While the trip does not require any planned stops, you should factor the $12 fuel cost into your overall travel budget before heading out. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the local roads early in the route requires your full attention, so plan your navigation ahead of time. Because the entire journey is designed to be completed in one day, you have the flexibility to adjust your timing based on local traffic conditions. Make sure to double-check your route settings before leaving Edwardsville, as the transition from local streets to I-55 North is the most critical part of your navigation.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.9 miles from Edwardsville, IL, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.8 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.9 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 13m
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 Edwardsville, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Edwardsville, IL
This is one driving day of about 77.8 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Edwardsville, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 68.8 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 77.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield
Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield
5
73.5 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|I 55 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
7
73.7 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|I 55 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
7
77.6 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|East Washington Street
Turn right onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.16 one way
$24.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.35
$26.71
premium
$4.89
$14.97
$29.94
diesel
$5.61
$17.18
$34.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.17
$3.73
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.81
$3.11
EV Truck/SUV
31.1
0
$10.89
$4.98
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 14, 2026
Origin
Edwardsville, IL
Late night
in Edwardsville on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Late night
in Springfield on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 18 mph23% chanceLive forecast
54°F
Litchfield, IL
39 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
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 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way out of Edwardsville. You will spend your initial miles maneuvering through Marine Road and East Vandalia Street, where the longest uninterrupted stretch is currently 0 miles. Once you transition to I-55 North, the route shifts into a more consistent highway pace for the remainder of the 80-mile trek. Because the highway share is 0 percent of the total road type designation provided, prepare for a drive that prioritizes local navigation over long-distance interstate cruising. This combination of local turns and highway travel ensures you stay engaged behind the wheel throughout the entire 1 hour and 18-minute duration.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.8 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 55 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 32m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.5 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
The longest stretch is about 68.8 miles on I 55. 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 3.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.5 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Springfield, IL before heading back.
