Origin
Springfield, IL
Late night in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
3:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Springfield, IL to Arthur, 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 34m
Distance
70.3 mi
113 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Arthur, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 70.3-mile drive from Springfield, IL to Arthur, IL takes about 1 hour and 34 minutes, making it a perfect day trip within the Midwest. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 88% of the journey on major roads like US 36 and I-72. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, it's an economical option for a short excursion. Since there are no recommended overnight stops and the drive is relatively brief, you'll have plenty of flexibility for when you depart and how you structure your travel time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.2 miles from Springfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 36 | 32.6 mi | 49m |
| I 72 | 29.5 mi | 31m |
| North County Road 000 East | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Clear Lake Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| North Vine Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North 12th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Vine Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 36
— 32.6 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, IL and Arthur, 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
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Clear Lake Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Continue on I 72; US 36
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 72; US 36
5
Take the exit onto US 36
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 36
Exit 133
Toward US 36 East, US 51 South: Decatur, Pana
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36
6.9 mi
·
10 min
·
US 36
Toward US 36 East: Decatur
Use the left lane.
7
Turn slight right onto US 36
25 mi
·
38 min
·
US 36
8
Turn right onto North County Road 000 East
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
North County Road 000 East
9
Continue on North Vine Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Vine Street
10
Arrive at destination
South Vine Street
Trip Plan
For this efficient 1 hour and 34 minute drive, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. With a fuel cost estimated at just $11, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. Since the longest stretch is 32.6 miles, consider taking a brief break around that mark if you feel the need, though it's not strictly necessary for a drive of this length. Keep an eye on your GPS as you transition between US 36 and I-72 to ensure you're on the most direct path to Arthur.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.2 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.6 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 15 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.2 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arthur, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Springfield, IL
This is one driving day of about 70.3 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Springfield, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 36 for about 32.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 35.2 miles from Springfield, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 65 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Washington Street
Depart onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 12th Street
Turn left onto North 12th Street
Navigation decision point
6
32.4 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
US 36
Take the exit onto US 36 toward US 36 East, US 51 South: Decatur, Pana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 133
Toward US 36 East, US 51 South: Decatur, Pana
7
32.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
US 36
Keep slight left at fork onto US 36 toward US 36 East: Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 36 East: Decatur
4
65 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
North County Road 000 East
Turn right onto North County Road 000 East
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.99 one way
$21.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.07 | $24.13 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.53 | $27.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.52 | $31.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.84 | $4.50 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Arthur, IL
Late night in Arthur on Tuesday
Local time
3:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 34m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 70.3-mile trip, with 88% of your travel time spent on major routes such as US 36 and I-72. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.6 miles on US 36, offering a consistent pace. This route offers a driving profile that keeps you moving efficiently, with minimal time spent on slower local roads. It's a straightforward drive designed for getting from point A to point B with ease.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.6 mi on US 36.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 36 and I 72. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Washington Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.4 miles (US 36): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Springfield, IL to Arthur, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Pana along the way.
Pana
32.4 mi in
|
~37m
|
via US 36
About the Cities
Starting 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 34m. Total distance: 70.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.6 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 (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.4 miles (US 36): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Arthur, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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