Origin
Pekin, IL
Late night in Pekin on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pekin, 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
1h 20m
Distance
67.3 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pekin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward trip through the Illinois Midwest, the journey from Pekin to Springfield covers 67.3 miles in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Because the distance is relatively short, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable option for a weekend outing. The path primarily utilizes a combination of Court Street, I-155, and I-55 to connect these two cities. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, the simplicity of this drive allows for a stress-free transition between these Illinois hubs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 28.7 mi | 31m |
| I 155 | 25.5 mi | 27m |
| Court Street | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| Clear Lake Avenue | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Pearl Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| 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
— 28.7 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pekin, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on South 8th Street
79 ft
·
6 sec
·
South 8th Street
2
Turn left onto Broadway Street
360 ft
·
17 sec
·
Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto Court Street
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Court Street
4
Continue on IL 9
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pearl Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 155 South
6
Merge onto I 155
25 mi
·
27 min
·
I 155
7
Merge onto I 55
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.6 miles from Pekin, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Broadway Street
Turn left onto Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Court Street
Turn left onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
5
64.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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
67.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
67.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.52 one way
$21.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.55 | $23.10 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.95 | $25.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.86 | $29.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
| Efficient EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.89 | $2.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.42 | $4.31 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 14 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
68°F
Atlanta, IL
34 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
15 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 20m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This 67.3-mile route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 81% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will start by navigating local stretches like Court Street before transitioning onto the interstate system. Once you merge onto I-55, you will encounter the longest uninterrupted leg of your journey, spanning 28.7 miles of open road. The experience is best described as a practical, highway-focused drive that favors efficiency over technical turns. Expect a consistent pace as you transition from the local grid onto the faster-moving interstate lanes.
81% 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: 28.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 155. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Broadway 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 67.3 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: near the start (Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 64.5 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
680 ft
504 ft
Total Climb
291 ft
Total Descent
195 ft
Highest Point
680 ft
~19.2 mi in
Elevation Range
175 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Pekin, IL
Full guide →Founded 1829
Top landmarks
- • Carl Herget Mansion — historic house in Illinois, United States
- • Pekin Federal Building — historic government building in Pekin, Illinois
- • St. Louis, Peoria and Northern Railroad Depot — historic train station in Pekin, Tazewell County, Illinois
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 1h 20m. Total distance: 67.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.7 miles on I 55. 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 (Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 64.5 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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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