Germantown Hills to Springfield is 79.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 33 minutes via I-155 and I-55, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip connecting two points within Illinois, both in the Midwest region. Expect a drive that's mostly on interstates, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B. It's a short enough distance that you can easily complete it in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.6 miles from Germantown Hills, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 155
31.8 mi
34m
I 55
28.7 mi
31m
North Main Street
6.4 mi
8m
I 74
5.3 mi
5m
State Route 116
2.6 mi
4m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
1m
East Washington Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 155
— 31.8 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Germantown Hills, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on IL 116
2.6 mi·4 min·State Route 116
2
Continue on IL 116
6.4 mi·8 min·North Main Street
3
Turn left
0.4 mi·52 sec
4
Merge onto I 74
5.3 mi·5 min·I 74
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 155 South: Lincoln
6
Continue on I 155
32 mi·34 min·I 155
7
Merge onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
9
Merge onto IL 97
2.1 mi·4 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 33 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with this trip. Leaving anytime in the morning or early afternoon should allow you to arrive with ample daylight. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, filling up before you leave Germantown Hills is a good idea, as there are no specified stops along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Springfield, as the longest stretch on I-155 is over 30 miles, so you'll want to be sure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably.
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 39.6 miles from Germantown Hills, IL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.8 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.6 miles or 47m 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 17m
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 Germantown Hills, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Germantown Hills, IL
This is one driving day of about 79.3 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Germantown Hills, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 155 for about 31.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 9 and 79.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
9 mi into trip|~13m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
4
14.7 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the exit toward I 155 South: Lincoln
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 155 South: Lincoln
5
76.5 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue
Merge onto IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
79 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
79.1 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.40 one way
$24.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.61
$27.22
premium
$4.89
$15.26
$30.52
diesel
$5.61
$17.51
$35.02
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: 27.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.8
0
$8.33
$3.81
Efficient EV
19.8
0
$6.94
$3.17
EV Truck/SUV
31.7
0
$11.10
$5.08
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Germantown Hills, IL
Afternoon
in Germantown Hills on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 16 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:02AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 3:59AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Springfield, IL
Afternoon
in Springfield on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Chance Rain Showers
NW 14 mph53% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:02AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 3:59AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
74°F
Atlanta, IL
40 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
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
1h 33m 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.
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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 86% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-155 and then transition to I-55. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 31.8 miles on I-155, offering a period of consistent speed and travel. While primarily interstate, the initial and final segments may involve local roads like North Main Street, providing a brief glimpse of surface street driving before you merge onto the main highways.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.8 mi on I 155.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 155 and I 55. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 79.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 76.5 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 33m. Total distance: 79.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m 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 31.8 miles on I 155. 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 9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 76.5 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
