Origin
Morrison, IL
Late night in Morrison on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Morrison, 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
3h 33m
Distance
192 mi
309 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 22m
★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 59m
10 AM
3h 43m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 44m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Morrison, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 192-mile drive from Morrison, Illinois, to Springfield, Illinois, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 33 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and I-55, this route is heavily highway-focused, with 84% of the journey on interstates. With a projected fuel cost of around $30, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. You'll likely find this to be a straightforward and efficient drive, making it ideal for a quick getaway or a convenient transit between these two Illinois cities.
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
96 miles from Morrison, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | 77.7 mi | 1h 23m |
| I 155 | 31.8 mi | 34m |
| I 55 | 28.7 mi | 31m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 20 mi | 21m |
| I 474 | 13.8 mi | 14m |
| IL 110 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Crosby Road | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Clear Lake Avenue | 2.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 77.7 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morrison, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on North Cherry Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Cherry Street
2
Turn left onto IL 78
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Wall Street
3
Turn right onto IL 78
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
South Clinton Street
4
Turn left onto IL 78
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Portland Avenue
5
Continue on IL 78
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Crosby Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
7
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 88; IL 92; IL 110
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9
Take the exit onto IL 110
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
IL 110
Toward I 80: Peoria
10
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110
72 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 474 East: Indianapolis
12
Merge onto I 474
14 mi
·
14 min
·
I 474
13
Merge onto I 74
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 74
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 155 South: Lincoln
15
Continue on I 155
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 155
16
Merge onto I 55
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
18
Merge onto IL 97
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft
·
18 sec
·
North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 33-minute duration, this 192-mile route is perfect for a single-day adventure. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive at your destination with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your break. Aim to leave Morrison, IL, before peak morning traffic, and keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 77.7-mile stretch on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, as services might be more spaced out on this particular segment.
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 96 miles from Morrison, IL, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.7 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 42 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96 miles or 1h 46m 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 53m
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 Morrison, 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 Morrison, IL
This is one driving day of about 192 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Morrison, 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 Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 77.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96 miles from Morrison, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Chicago-Kansas City Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.7 miles.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 191.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 78 / East Wall Street
Turn left onto IL 78 / East Wall Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 78 / South Clinton Street
Turn right onto IL 78 / South Clinton Street
Navigation decision point
5
189.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 27m 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
191.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
|
North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
191.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.02 one way
$60.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.96 | $65.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.95 | $73.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.39 | $84.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.6 | 0 | $20.16 | $9.22 |
| Efficient EV | 48 | 0 | $16.80 | $7.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.8 | 0 | $26.88 | $12.29 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Springfield, IL
Late night in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Peoria, IL
96 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
7 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 33m 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 highway-focused experience for most of this 192-mile journey, with 84% of the drive on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 77.7 miles on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. This section of the drive is characterized by consistent speeds and efficient travel, characteristic of a well-maintained interstate system. While primarily a highway grind, the transition to I-55 will maintain this high-speed, direct travel profile throughout your trip.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.7 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and I 155. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near IL 78 / East Wall Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 192 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (IL 78 / East Wall Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 78 / South Clinton Street): Navigation decision point; at 189.3 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Morrison, IL
Full guide →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 3h 33m. Total distance: 192 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.7 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. 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 0.2 miles (IL 78 / East Wall Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 78 / South Clinton Street): Navigation decision point; at 189.3 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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