Origin
Hillsboro, IL
Morning in Hillsboro on Tuesday
Local time
7:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hillsboro, IL to Springfield, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
54.3 mi
87 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hillsboro, IL
Quang Vuong
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 54.3-mile drive from Hillsboro, IL to Springfield, IL is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in just over an hour, making it perfect for a day trip. You'll primarily be on I-55, with some sections of Springfield Road and I-55 Business. With a projected fuel cost of around $8, this is an economical option for travel within the Midwest. The route is focused on efficient highway travel, so if you're looking for a quick and direct connection between these two Illinois cities, this drive fits the bill. Given the short duration, it doesn't require an overnight stop.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 38.8 mi | 41m |
| Springfield Road | 7.4 mi | 10m |
| I 55 Business | 4.6 mi | 10m |
| East Union Avenue | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| County Road 1200 N | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Old State Capitol Plaza | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Seward Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 38.8 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hillsboro, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on West Seward Street
279 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Seward Street
2
Turn left onto IL 16; IL 127
105 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Hamilton Street
3
Turn slight left onto IL 16; IL 127
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Springfield Road
4
Continue on IL 16
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East Union Avenue
5
Continue on IL 16
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
County Road 1200 N
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 55 North: Springfield
7
Merge onto I 55
39 mi
·
41 min
·
I 55
8
Take the exit onto I 55 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 55 Business
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
I 55 Business
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business
3.8 mi
·
8 min
·
I 55 Business
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on East Old State Capitol Plaza
409 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Old State Capitol Plaza
12
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Hillsboro, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 54.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 16; IL 127 / South Hamilton Street
Turn left onto IL 16; IL 127 / South Hamilton Street
Navigation decision point
4
49.4 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
I 55 Business
Take the exit onto I 55 Business toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
5
50.1 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
50.2 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn right onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.49 one way
$16.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.32 | $18.64 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.45 | $20.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.99 | $23.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.60 | $3.48 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Springfield, IL
Morning in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
7:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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 9m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 80% of the drive taking place on interstates and main roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 38.8 miles on I-55, offering a consistent pace. This drive is designed for efficiency rather than scenic detours, so prepare for a straightforward journey with minimal complex turns or changes in road type. It's a functional route that prioritizes getting you from point A to point B smoothly.
80% 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: 38.8 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Springfield Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 16; IL 127 / South Hamilton Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 9m 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 0.1 miles (IL 16; IL 127 / South Hamilton Street): Navigation decision point; at 49.4 miles (I 55 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 50.1 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Starting in Hillsboro, IL
Full guide →Founded 1823
Top landmarks
- • Montgomery County Courthouse — courthouse in Illinois, United States
Arriving in Springfield, IL
Full guide →Founded 1840
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 54.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.8 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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: at 0.1 miles (IL 16; IL 127 / South Hamilton Street): Navigation decision point; at 49.4 miles (I 55 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 50.1 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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