Origin
Mount Zion, IL
Morning in Mount Zion on Sunday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mount Zion, IL to Springfield, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
45.8 mi
74 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mount Zion, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip between Mount Zion and Springfield, Illinois, expect a straightforward journey covering approximately 45.8 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 49 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of around $7, this route is highly economical and requires no overnight stops. You will stay entirely within the Midwest, transitioning between these two Illinois communities via a series of local roads. Since the trip is short and efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule, whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of errands.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 36 | 30.5 mi | 32m |
| US 51 | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| East Elwin Road | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Clear Lake Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Business Route 51 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 36
— 30.5 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Zion, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on North Henderson Street
64 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Henderson Street
2
Turn left onto CTH 30
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on CTH 30
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
East Elwin Road
4
Turn right onto US 51 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Business Route 51
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward US 51 North: Springfield, Bloomington
6
Merge onto US 51
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
US 51
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Springfield
8
Merge onto US 36
31 mi
·
32 min
·
US 36
9
Continue on IL 97
2.3 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.9 miles from Mount Zion, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 45.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CTH 30 / West Main Street
Turn left onto CTH 30 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
6.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward US 51 North: Springfield, Bloomington
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 51 North: Springfield, Bloomington
5
11.9 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
45.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
45.7 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.16 one way
$14.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.86 | $15.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.81 | $17.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.11 | $20.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.81 | $2.20 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.01 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 Sunday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Niantic, IL
23 mi in
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
9 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
56m 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?
This 45.8-mile transit is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a route defined by local roads like West Main Street, East Elwin Road, and Route 51. You won't find any long, monotonous stretches here; instead, the road requires your attention as you navigate through various turns. Expect a more personal, hands-on driving experience that contrasts sharply with the typical highway grind. The lack of major highway segments means you will remain on local thoroughfares for the duration of the 49-minute trip.
79% 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: 30.5 mi on US 36.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 36 and US 51. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CTH 30 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 45.8 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (CTH 30 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
720 ft
547 ft
Total Climb
155 ft
Total Descent
250 ft
Highest Point
720 ft
~6.5 mi in
Elevation Range
173 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Mount Zion, IL to Springfield, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Bloomington along the way.
Bloomington
6.3 mi in
|
~9m
About the Cities
Starting in Mount Zion, IL
Full guide →Founded 1881
Jerusalem (Hebrew: ירושלים Yerushalayim, Arabic: القدس al-Quds) is the largest city of Israel. Israel claims it as its capital and a few countries including the United States recognize that claim, but most other countries and the United Nations do not. The ancient city in the Judean Hills has a fascinating history spanning thousands of years. The city is holy to the three monotheistic religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and serves as a spiritual, religious, and cultural center. Due to the religious significance of the city, and in particular the many sites of the Old City area, Jerusalem is one of the main tourist destinations in Israel. Jerusalem has many historic, archeological and cultural sites, along with vibrant and crowded shopping centers, cafes, and restaurants.
Arriving in Springfield, IL
Full guide →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.
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 56m. Total distance: 45.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.5 miles on US 36. 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: near the start (CTH 30 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 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.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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