Hartford, IL to Springfield, IL is 86.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 48 minutes via I 55 and State Route 140, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward connection between two points in the state. The route primarily utilizes highway driving, suggesting a consistent pace for most of the drive. With its short duration and modest fuel cost, this is a practical option for a same-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.1 miles from Hartford, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
61.6 mi
1h 6m
State Route 140
9.7 mi
13m
I 55 Business
4.6 mi
10m
Lewis and Clark Boulevard
1.9 mi
2m
West Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi
3m
Vaughn Road
1.7 mi
3m
West Madison Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
North Bellwood Drive
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 61.6 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hartford, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on South Delmar Avenue
67 ft·8 sec·South Delmar Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Hawthorne Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·West Hawthorne Street
3
Turn right onto IL 3
1.9 mi·2 min·Lewis and Clark Boulevard
4
Take the exit
216 ft·5 sec
5
Turn slight right onto IL 143
0.1 mi·10 sec·West Ferguson Avenue
6
Continue on IL 143
1.5 mi·2 min·West Madison Avenue
7
Turn left onto IL 111
0.3 mi·28 sec·South Central Avenue
8
Continue on IL 111
1.7 mi·3 min·Vaughn Road
9
Continue on IL 111
0.7 mi·1 min·South Bellwood Drive
10
Continue on IL 111
0.9 mi·1 min·North Bellwood Drive
11
Turn right onto IL 140
1.8 mi·3 min·West Bethalto Drive
12
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi·13 min·State Route 140
13
Continue on IL 140
0.8 mi·1 min·West State Street
14
Continue on IL 140
443 ft·13 sec·State Route 140
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
16
Merge onto I 55
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 55
17
Take the exit onto I 55 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·I 55 Business
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business
0.2 mi·16 sec·I 55 Business
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
19
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.
20
Continue on East Old State Capitol Plaza
409 ft·15 sec·East Old State Capitol Plaza
21
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given this drive takes under two hours, you have the flexibility to leave anytime. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your time in Springfield. With a fuel cost of around $13, filling up before you leave Hartford is advisable, as there are no planned stops on this route. The longest stretch on I 55 is over 60 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration before setting off. Since it's a short trip, you can easily make it in one day without needing to break it up.
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 43.1 miles from Hartford, IL, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.6 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 19 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.1 miles or 56m 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 28m
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 Hartford, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hartford, IL
This is one driving day of about 86.2 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Hartford, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 61.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 86 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Hawthorne Street
Turn left onto West Hawthorne Street
Navigation decision point
5
19.4 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
82 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
82.1 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
86 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|East Washington Street
Turn right onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.48 one way
$26.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.80
$29.59
premium
$4.89
$16.59
$33.18
diesel
$5.61
$19.03
$38.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.9
0
$9.05
$4.14
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.54
$3.45
EV Truck/SUV
34.5
0
$12.07
$5.52
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 20, 2026
Origin
Hartford, IL
Late night
in Hartford on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Late night
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
2 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
1h 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?
You'll spend 88% of this drive on the highway, with the longest continuous stretch covering 61.6 miles on I 55. Expect to transition from highway to surface roads as you approach your destination. This means you'll notice a change in the pace and potentially more frequent exits and local traffic as you near Springfield. The initial portion is very much a highway cruise.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and State Route 140. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Hawthorne Street.
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 86.2 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (West Hawthorne Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 82 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.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 86.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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: near the start (West Hawthorne Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 82 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
