This 169.3-mile drive from New Lenox, IL to Springfield, IL is a straightforward, highway-focused journey perfect for a single day trip. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 11 minutes on the road, primarily utilizing I-55. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, this route is budget-friendly for a day excursion. The drive stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout. Given its manageable distance and duration, it's an efficient option for reaching your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
84.7 miles from New Lenox, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
152.5 mi
2h 44m
I 80
11.1 mi
14m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
West Maple Street
1.4 mi
3m
East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
1m
East Washington Street
0.1 mi
<1m
North Cedar Road
0.1 mi
<1m
North 7th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 152.5 mi, about 2h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Lenox, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on this road
215 ft·22 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto East Haven Avenue
175 ft·10 sec·East Haven Avenue
3
Enter roundabout onto North Cedar Road
106 ft·2 sec·North Cedar Road
4
Continue on North Cedar Road
0.1 mi·22 sec·North Cedar Road
5
Turn left onto US 30
1.4 mi·3 min·West Maple Street
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
7
Merge onto I 80
11 mi·14 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 126AToward I 55 South: Saint Louis
9
Merge onto I 55
93 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 55
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
60 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
12
Merge onto IL 97
2.1 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
For this 3-hour, 11-minute trip, departing in the morning will give you ample time to explore Springfield upon arrival. The 169.3 miles are best tackled with a single, longer stretch on I-55, minimizing stops. Consider fueling up before you leave New Lenox to ensure you have enough for the 152.5-mile main highway segment. A quick stop for gas or a break around the halfway point might be beneficial, but isn't strictly necessary. Keep an eye out for the transition from I-55 to Clear Lake Avenue as you approach Springfield.
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 84.7 miles from New Lenox, IL, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152.5 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 37 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.7 miles or 1h 37m 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 35m
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 New Lenox, 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 New Lenox, IL
This is one driving day of about 169.3 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from New Lenox, 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 152.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 169.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Cedar Road
Enter roundabout onto North Cedar Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
2.2 mi into trip|~5m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
106.6 mi into trip|~2h 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
169.1 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
169.2 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.47 one way
$52.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.06
$58.12
premium
$4.89
$32.58
$65.16
diesel
$5.61
$37.38
$74.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.8
0
$17.78
$8.13
Efficient EV
42.3
0
$14.81
$6.77
EV Truck/SUV
67.7
0
$23.70
$10.84
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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
New Lenox, IL
Late night
in New Lenox on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Late night
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Bloomington, IL
85 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 11m 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...
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the mileage on interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I-55, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 152.5 miles. The profile suggests a consistent pace, allowing for steady progress towards Springfield. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of Clear Lake Avenue as a main road indicates a transition into the destination city. Overall, expect a practical, efficient drive with minimal scenic detours.
97% 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: 152.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 80. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Cedar Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 169.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (North Cedar Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.2 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.6 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The South Suburbs make up a region of Chicagoland, in Illinois. The region is generally defined as the area south of I-55 and the Chicago Skyway. Many of the communities immediately near Chicago continue to have an urban character while many of the southernmost communities are suburban and exurban.
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 3h 11m. Total distance: 169.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 152.5 miles on I 55. 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 0.1 miles (North Cedar Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.2 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.6 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 and Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
