Hillcrest, IL to Springfield, IL is 172.5 miles and takes about 3h 10m via I 39 and I 55, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward journey. It's a highway-focused drive that's perfect for a single-day excursion. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
86.3 miles from Hillcrest, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 39
98.5 mi
1h 45m
I 55
59.5 mi
1h 3m
US 51
7.6 mi
8m
May Mart Drive
2.1 mi
3m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
IL 251
1.2 mi
1m
East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
1m
East Washington Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hillcrest, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on IL 251
1.2 mi·1 min·IL 251
2
Turn left onto IL 38
2.1 mi·3 min·May Mart Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
4
Merge onto I 39; US 51
99 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 39; US 51
5
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
6
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.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
8
Merge onto IL 97
2.1 mi·4 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 10 minutes, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to arrive and still have your afternoon free. Since the longest continuous stretch is nearly 100 miles, plan your fuel stops accordingly, though with a total fuel cost of around $27, it's unlikely to be a major concern. The route is primarily interstate, so keep an eye out for the designated exits for US 51 as you approach Springfield.
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 86.3 miles from Hillcrest, IL, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 38 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.3 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
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 Hillcrest, 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 Hillcrest, IL
This is one driving day of about 172.5 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Hillcrest, 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 98.5 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 102.2 and 172.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
102.2 mi into trip|~1h 51m 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
109.8 mi into trip|~1h 59m 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
5
169.7 mi into trip|~3h 4m 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
172.3 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
172.4 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.97 one way
$53.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.61
$59.22
premium
$4.89
$33.20
$66.39
diesel
$5.61
$38.09
$76.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.8
0
$18.11
$8.28
Efficient EV
43.1
0
$15.09
$6.90
EV Truck/SUV
69
0
$24.15
$11.04
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 18, 2026
Origin
Hillcrest, IL
Late night
in Hillcrest on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Late night
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 14 mph100% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:24PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
68°F
Bloomington, IL
86 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
1 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
3h 10m 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?
Expect a highly highway-oriented experience on this route, with 97% of the drive taking place on major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 39, including a longest stretch of 98.5 miles. This means consistent speed and minimal interruptions for much of the journey. While predominantly fast-paced, the transition to I 55 and US 51 will keep the drive moving efficiently towards your destination.
97% 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: 98.5 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 102.2 miles in near US 51.
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 172.5 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 102.2 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.7 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hillcrest, 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.
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 3h 10m. Total distance: 172.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.5 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 102.2 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.7 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
