Connecting Mattoon to Springfield, this 82.7-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the heart of the Illinois Midwest. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 50 minutes on the road, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of only $13, it is an affordable way to navigate between these two regional hubs. Because the transit time is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations unless your schedule requires it. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, this route offers a practical and efficient link between the two cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.3 miles from Mattoon, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Route 121
33.8 mi
48m
US 36
30.5 mi
32m
US 51
5.2 mi
5m
East Elwin Road
4.2 mi
5m
Dewitt Avenue
2.3 mi
3m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
West Main Street
1.8 mi
3m
South Business Route 51
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Route 121
— 33.8 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mattoon, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on this road
115 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto North 15th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North 15th Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto Dewitt Avenue
2.3 mi·3 min·Dewitt Avenue
4
Continue on IL 121
34 mi·48 min·Route 121
5
Turn left onto CTH 30
1.8 mi·3 min·West Main Street
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on CTH 30
4.2 mi·5 min·East Elwin Road
7
Turn right onto US 51 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·South Business Route 51
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward US 51 North: Springfield, Bloomington
9
Merge onto US 51
5.2 mi·5 min·US 51
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Springfield
11
Merge onto US 36
31 mi·32 min·US 36
12
Continue on IL 97
2.3 mi·4 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour drive with no mandatory stops scheduled, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal preferences. You can easily complete the entire 82.7-mile distance without needing to refuel, keeping your $13 budget intact for the duration of the trip. Because the route relies heavily on major roads, keep an eye on traffic patterns as you transition between Route 121 and US 36. If you are traveling during peak hours, factor in a little extra time to account for potential congestion on the highway stretches. Leveraging the simplicity of this short drive allows you to maximize your time once you arrive at your destination.
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 41.3 miles from Mattoon, IL, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.8 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.3 miles or 1h 1m 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 34m
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 Mattoon, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mattoon, IL
This is one driving day of about 82.7 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Mattoon, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Route 121 for about 33.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 36.5 and 82.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
36.5 mi into trip|~54m in|CTH 30 / West Main Street
Turn left onto CTH 30 / West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
43.2 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the ramp toward US 51 North: Springfield, Bloomington
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 51 North: Springfield, Bloomington
5
48.8 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Springfield
6
82.5 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
82.5 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.93 one way
$25.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.20
$28.39
premium
$4.89
$15.91
$31.83
diesel
$5.61
$18.26
$36.52
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: 28.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.68
$3.97
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.24
$3.31
EV Truck/SUV
33.1
0
$11.58
$5.29
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Mattoon, IL
Morning
in Mattoon on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Morning
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 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
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 50m 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?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with approximately 85% of your travel spent on higher-speed roads. You will rely on a combination of Route 121, US 36, and US 51 to complete the distance. Behind the wheel, you will encounter a mix of road types, including a notable 33.8-mile stretch on Route 121 that serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your trip. Expect a consistent pace as you transition between these main arteries, moving away from local connections toward more efficient highway travel. The experience is functional and direct, perfect for those who prefer steady momentum over winding scenic detours.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.8 mi on Route 121.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Route 121 and US 36. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 36.5 miles in near CTH 30 / West Main 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 82.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 36.5 miles (CTH 30 / West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
735 ft560 ft
Total Climb
178 ft
Total Descent
313 ft
Highest Point
735 ft
Elevation Range
175 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mattoon, IL to Springfield, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Bloomington along the way.
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 50m. Total distance: 82.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.8 miles on Route 121. 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 36.5 miles (CTH 30 / West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
