This 190.5-mile drive from South Holland, IL to Springfield, IL is a straightforward trip through the Midwest, manageable in about 3 hours and 38 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $30, it's an economical option for a single day trip. The route is predominantly highway, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Illinois cities. You'll primarily be on I-55, with a brief portion on I-80 and Clear Lake Avenue towards the end. This journey is well-suited for a one-day adventure, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
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
95.3 miles from South Holland, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
152.5 mi
2h 44m
I 80
29.8 mi
37m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
Halsted Street
1.3 mi
2m
Tri-State Tollway
1.2 mi
1m
East 162nd Street
1.1 mi
2m
East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
1m
West 159th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 152.5 mi, about 2h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Holland, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·East 162nd Street
2
Continue on US 6
0.4 mi·57 sec·West 159th Street
3
Turn left onto IL 1
1.3 mi·2 min·Halsted Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 Toll West, I 294 Toll North: Iowa, Wisconsin
5
Merge onto I 80; I 294
1.2 mi·1 min·Tri-State Tollway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
30 mi·37 min·I 80
Exit 5Toward I 80 West: IowaUse the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 126AToward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
Merge onto I 55
93 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 55
Use the right lane.
9
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.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
11
Merge onto IL 97
2.1 mi·4 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour, 38-minute duration, this trip works best as a single-day excursion. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your time in Springfield. You'll encounter one primary suggested stop, but with a drive of this length, you have flexibility to add more if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longest stretch on I-55; the $30 fuel cost is a good estimate, but check local prices. A practical tip: since much of this route is on I-55, consider downloading offline maps in case of spotty service.
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 95.3 miles from South Holland, IL, or about 1h 52m 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 42 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.3 miles or 1h 52m 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 57m
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 South Holland, 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 South Holland, IL
This is one driving day of about 190.5 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from South Holland, 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 190.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|IL 1 / Halsted Street
Turn left onto IL 1 / Halsted Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
4.7 mi into trip|~9m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Iowa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
8
127.8 mi into trip|~2h 27m 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
190.3 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
190.4 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.78 one way
$59.57 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.70
$65.40
premium
$4.89
$36.66
$73.32
diesel
$5.61
$42.06
$84.12
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
Tri-state Tollway
(1.2 mi)$0.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.7 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
57.2
0
$20.00
$9.14
Efficient EV
47.6
0
$16.67
$7.62
EV Truck/SUV
76.2
0
$26.67
$12.19
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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
South Holland, IL
Late night
in South Holland on Tuesday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Late night
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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
3h 38m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 96% of this 190.5-mile journey. The majority of your travel will be on I-55, including a significant uninterrupted stretch of 152.5 miles. This means the drive is largely characterized by consistent speed and efficient travel, typical of interstate travel. While it's a highway-centric profile, be aware of the brief transitions onto I-80 and Clear Lake Avenue as you approach your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 80. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near IL 1 / Halsted Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 190.5 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 1.5 miles (IL 1 / Halsted Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 38m. Total distance: 190.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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.
Expect about $0.07 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 1.5 miles (IL 1 / Halsted Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.8 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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
