Embark on a 178.8-mile journey from Lawrenceville, IL, to Springfield, IL, a drive that will take approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes. This Midwest to Midwest trip is easily manageable as a day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $28. The route primarily utilizes US 50 and West Springfield Road, offering a mixed driving experience. You'll encounter one recommended stop along the way, making it convenient for a single-day excursion. This drive is a straightforward option for those looking to connect two points within Illinois without extensive planning.
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
89.4 miles from Lawrenceville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
78.4 mi
1h 39m
West Springfield Road
15.7 mi
18m
South Superior Street
15.1 mi
17m
300E
13.5 mi
15m
County Road 875 East
11.1 mi
12m
150E
10.4 mi
11m
IL 29
8.8 mi
12m
N 2000 East Road
5.4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 78.4 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrenceville, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on US 50 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·State Street
2
Continue on State Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·State Street
3
Take the ramp onto US 50 Business
0.4 mi·1 min·US 50 Business
4
Continue on US 50
78 mi·1 hr 39 min·US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 51
10 mi·11 min·150E
6
Continue on US 51
13 mi·15 min·300E
7
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi·35 sec·US 40; US 51; IL 185
8
Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
1.6 mi·1 min·North Kennedy Boulevard
9
Continue on US 51
11 mi·12 min·County Road 875 East
10
Continue on US 51
15 mi·17 min·South Superior Street
11
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 2400 East
12
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi·2 min·Fair Avenue
13
Continue on US 51
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Poplar Street
14
Turn left onto IL 16
0.4 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
15
Turn right onto South State Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·South State Street
16
Turn left onto IL 29
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Washington Street
17
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·N 2000 East Road
18
Continue on IL 29
5.1 mi·7 min·State Route 29
19
Continue on East Park Street
5.3 mi·7 min·East Park Street
20
Turn right onto IL 29
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Webster Street
21
Continue on IL 29
16 mi·18 min·West Springfield Road
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on IL 29
1.3 mi·1 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on IL 29
1.1 mi·1 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn straight onto IL 29
1.0 mi·2 min·IL 29
26
Turn left onto IL 97
1.8 mi·3 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
30
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under four hours, this drive is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to make the most of your day in Springfield, and consider utilizing the one recommended stop for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 78.4-mile stretch on US 50 where services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $28 is a good budget to keep in mind for this 178.8-mile trip.
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 89.4 miles from Lawrenceville, IL, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.4 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 39 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.4 miles or 1h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 5m
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 Lawrenceville, 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 Lawrenceville, IL
This is one driving day of about 178.8 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Lawrenceville, 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 US 50 for about 78.4 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 104.2 and 178.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
104.2 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|US 40; US 51; IL 185 / North Kennedy Boulevard
Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185 / North Kennedy Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
134.8 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|IL 16 / West 2nd Street
Turn left onto IL 16 / West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
135.4 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|IL 29 / West Washington Street
Turn left onto IL 29 / West Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
178.6 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
178.6 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.95 one way
$55.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.69
$61.38
premium
$4.89
$34.41
$68.82
diesel
$5.61
$39.48
$78.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.6
0
$18.77
$8.58
Efficient EV
44.7
0
$15.65
$7.15
EV Truck/SUV
71.5
0
$25.03
$11.44
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Lawrenceville, IL
Morning
in Lawrenceville on Tuesday
Local time
9:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Morning
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
9:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Chance Rain Showers
NW 14 mph53% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:31AM CDT until April 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:02AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
70°F
Brownstown, IL
89 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
8 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
3h 50m 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 drive presents a mixed profile, with 52% of the route on highways. You'll experience a 78.4-mile stretch primarily on US 50, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. The remaining segments will likely involve navigating local roads like West Springfield Road and South Superior Street as you approach Springfield. Expect a varied driving experience, transitioning between more open highway speeds and potentially slower, more localized traffic as you get closer to your destination.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.4 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 104.2 miles in near US 40; US 51; IL 185 / North Kennedy Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 50m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 104.2 miles (US 40; US 51; IL 185 / North Kennedy Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 134.8 miles (IL 16 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 135.4 miles (IL 29 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
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
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.4 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 104.2 miles (US 40; US 51; IL 185 / North Kennedy Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 134.8 miles (IL 16 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 135.4 miles (IL 29 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
