Springfield, IL to Algonquin, IL is 203.8 miles and takes about 4h 14m via I 55 and IL 47, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Illinois, making it a straightforward drive. With a mostly highway profile, expect a consistent pace for most of the 203.8 miles. This is a good option if you're looking for a direct route between these two points with minimal fuss. It's a manageable drive for a single day, especially if you aim to leave in the morning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
101.9 miles from Springfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
122.1 mi
2h 11m
IL 47
32 mi
38m
South Randall Road
23.4 mi
38m
Orchard Road
11.2 mi
18m
Minkler Road
4.3 mi
6m
Ashley Road
2.8 mi
3m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
Walker Road
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 122.1 mi, about 2h 11m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,989 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,473
Quietest
2 AM
~178 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 94 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, IL and Algonquin, IL.
1
Start on East Washington Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto North 12th Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·North 12th Street
3
Turn straight onto IL 97
2.3 mi·4 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
5
Merge onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, PeoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·35 sec
Exit 220Toward IL 47: Morris, DwightUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto IL 47
32 mi·38 min·IL 47
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto Walker Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Walker Road
11
Turn left onto Ashley Road
2.8 mi·3 min·Ashley Road
12
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126
0.5 mi·46 sec·East Schoolhouse Road
13
Turn left onto Minkler Road
3.4 mi·4 min·Minkler Road
14
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
126 ft·3 sec·Minkler Road
15
Continue on Minkler Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Minkler Road
16
Continue on Orchard Road
11 mi·18 min·Orchard Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto CR 34
23 mi·38 min·South Randall Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto North County Line Road
1.0 mi·2 min·North County Line Road
Use the right lane.
19
At end of road, turn left onto Hanson Road
0.2 mi·31 sec·Hanson Road
20
Turn right onto Edgewood Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Edgewood Road
21
Turn left onto IL 31
0.4 mi·57 sec·South Main Street
22
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·South Main Street
23
Turn left onto Washington Street
77 ft·2 sec·Washington Street
24
Arrive at destination
Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 14m duration, leaving Springfield in the morning allows ample time to reach Algonquin well before evening. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 122.1 miles on I 55, so plan your first fuel stop before or early in that segment if needed. With only one primary recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself. Consider a brief break around the halfway point, perhaps where the route transitions from I 55 to IL 47, to stretch your legs before the final leg on surface roads. Your estimated fuel cost is around $32.
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 101.9 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.1 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 45 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.9 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 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Algonquin, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Springfield, 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 Springfield, IL
This is one driving day of about 203.8 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Springfield, 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 122.1 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 201 — 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|North 12th Street
Turn left onto North 12th Street
Navigation decision point
7
32.2 mi into trip|~38m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
61.5 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
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 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
8
125.1 mi into trip|~2h 17m in
Take the exit toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 220
Toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
6
201 mi into trip|~4h 7m in|North County Line Road
Turn right onto North County Line Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.00 one way
$67.99 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$37.09
$74.19
premium
$5.25
$42.15
$84.30
diesel
$6.28
$50.36
$100.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
EV Charging Along Route
38 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Springfield, IL - South Dirksen Parkway - Tesla Supercharger
Springfield, IL
Tesla
16 DCFC
Springfield, IL - West Jefferson Street - Tesla Supercharger
Springfield, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Springfield, IL Rechargery Relay - S Dirksen Pkwy
Springfield, IL
IONNA
12 DCFC
Normal, IL - West Raab Road - Tesla Supercharger
Normal, IL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Normal, IL - East College Avenue - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.1
0
$21.40
$9.78
Efficient EV
51
0
$17.83
$8.15
EV Truck/SUV
81.5
1
$28.53
$13.04
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Springfield, IL
Morning
in Springfield on Thursday
Local time
7:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Algonquin, IL
Morning
in Algonquin on Thursday
Local time
7:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 14m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 76% of the drive on major roads like I 55. You'll experience a significant stretch of 122.1 miles on I 55, likely characterized by consistent cruising speeds and multiple exits. The shift to surface roads begins around the point where IL 47 becomes a primary route, transitioning from high-speed travel to more local traffic patterns. Expect a noticeable increase in intersections and potentially slower speeds as you approach your destination.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.1 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and IL 47. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North 12th Street.
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 203.8 miles you will encounter 21 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 0.2 miles (North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
817 ft545 ft
Total Climb
574 ft
Total Descent
434 ft
Highest Point
817 ft
~72.8 mi in
Elevation Range
273 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Springfield, IL and Algonquin, IL, road signs point toward Peoria and Dwight.
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 4h 14m. Total distance: 203.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.1 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 Algonquin, 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 (North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.5 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. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Algonquin, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
