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Trip from Morris, IL to Springfield, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 37m

Distance

141.9 mi

228 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 27m ★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Illinois, United States

Morris, IL

Wikimedia Commons

capital city of Illinois and county seat of Sangamon County

Springfield, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 141.9-mile journey from Morris, IL to Springfield, IL, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 37 minutes. Predominantly on I-55, this drive offers a highway-focused experience, making it an efficient option for reaching your destination. With a projected fuel cost of around $22, it's an economical choice for a quick trip within the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so pack some good audio entertainment for the nearly 2.5-hour travel time. Plan for one main stop to break up the drive, but otherwise, it's a direct route.

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

70.9 miles from Morris, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 121.9 mi 2h 10m
East Street 8.5 mi 9m
Division Street 7.9 mi 9m
Clear Lake Avenue 2.1 mi 4m
East Jefferson Street 0.4 mi 1m
East Washington Street 0.1 mi <1m
North 7th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 121.9 mi, about 2h 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Morris, IL and Springfield, IL.

1

Start on this road

49 ft · 3 sec · this road
2

Turn right

43 ft · 8 sec
3

Turn left onto IL 47

7.9 mi · 9 min · Division Street
4

Continue on IL 47

8.5 mi · 9 min · East Street
5

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
6

Merge onto I 55

62 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

60 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
9

Merge onto IL 97

2.1 mi · 4 min · Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on IL 97

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Turn left onto North 7th Street

406 ft · 18 sec · North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12

Turn left onto East Washington Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
13

Arrive at destination

East Washington Street

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 37 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in one day. Aiming to leave in the morning will give you ample time to arrive and explore Springfield without feeling rushed. While the longest stretch on I-55 is over 120 miles, consider a brief stop around the halfway point for a stretch and to refuel if needed, especially since the estimated fuel cost is $22. The flexibility of a shorter drive like this means you can depart when it's most convenient for you. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you approach Springfield, as local streets can experience congestion.

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.9 miles from Morris, IL, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.9 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 31 miles or 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 70.9 miles or 1h 17m 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 6m

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 Morris, 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 Morris, IL

This is one driving day of about 141.9 miles and 2h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Morris, 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 55 for about 121.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IL

71 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

Reading, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Normal, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 70.9 miles from Morris, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 121.9 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Magic Kitchen

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Springfield, Illinois

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+12175256975

Visit website

Mr Gyros

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Springfield, Illinois

1 mi

Taco Gringo South

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Springfield, Illinois

1.1 mi

Magic Kitchen

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Springfield, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+12175256975

Visit website

Mr Gyros

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Springfield, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+12175232817

Taco Gringo South

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Springfield, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+12176702905

Visit website

Krekel's Custard & Hamburgers

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Grandview, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+12175254952

Visit website

Cancun

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately

Sherman, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12174963221

Visit website

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour Inexpensiv

Springfield, Illinois

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+12175445144

Visit website

James' Home Kitchen

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Springfield, Illinois

Hours: 4:30–8:30 pm

+12176792006

Visit website

Pizza Ranch

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour Moderately

Springfield, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+12176798844

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Rivian Waypoints

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887484261

Visit website

Rivian Adventure Network

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887484273

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Normal, Illinois

+13094549590

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Normal, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Normal, Illinois

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

Final third 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Lincoln, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12177354444

Visit website

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 16.4 and 141.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
16.4 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward I 55 South: Bloomington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
5
16.8 mi into trip | ~19m in | I 55

Merge onto I 55

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
79.2 mi into trip | ~1h 26m 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
6
141.7 mi into trip | ~2h 36m in | North 7th Street

Turn left onto North 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
7
141.7 mi into trip | ~2h 36m in | East Washington Street

Turn left onto East Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.18 one way

$44.37 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $24.36 $48.72
premium $4.89 $27.31 $54.61
diesel $5.61 $31.33 $62.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 49.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.6 0 $14.90 $6.81
Efficient EV 35.5 0 $12.42 $5.68
EV Truck/SUV 56.8 0 $19.87 $9.08

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 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 14, 2026

Origin

Morris, IL

Late night in Morris on Tuesday

Local time

4:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Springfield, IL

Late night in Springfield on Tuesday

Local time

4:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

87°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 18 mph 23% chance Live forecast

Tornado Watch

Tornado Watch issued April 14 at 2:35PM CDT until April 14 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Tornado Watch

Tornado Watch issued April 14 at 2:33PM CDT until April 14 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

68°F

Bloomington, IL

71 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

20 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

2h 37m 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

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...

0 mi from route Free near mile 141.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect an 86% highway drive for most of this route, primarily on I-55. This means you'll be covering significant ground on high-speed, multi-lane roads, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 121.9 miles. While the profile is largely highway-focused, the final segments will involve transitioning to local roads like East Street and Division Street as you enter Springfield. The character of the drive is efficient and direct, prioritizing getting you to your destination with minimal fuss rather than winding scenic byways. It's a classic interstate experience for much of the way.

86% 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: 121.9 mi on I 55.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and East Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 16.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 141.9 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: at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 16.8 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Starting in Morris, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1842

Northern Illinois is a region of Illinois generally located immediately along and north of I-80 and outside of Chicagoland. While largely rural, it does include Rockford, the third largest city in Illinois, as well as DeKalb, home of Northern Illinois University.

Top landmarks

  • • Dresden Island Lock and Dam Historic District
  • • Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District — historic district 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 2h 37m. Total distance: 141.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 121.9 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 16.8 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.

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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