This 82.4-mile journey from Springfield, IL, to Barry, IL, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 35 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, it's an economical option for a quick trip. The route is predominantly highway, making it a efficient option for a single-day excursion. You'll be staying within the Midwest region and the state of Illinois for this entire drive. Consider this a practical choice when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.2 miles from Springfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 72
76.6 mi
1h 22m
South 11th Street
3 mi
6m
I 55 Business
0.8 mi
1m
Rodgers Street
0.5 mi
1m
East Stevenson Drive
0.4 mi
<1m
County Highway 4
0.2 mi
<1m
East Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Township Road 1745E
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 72
— 76.6 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, IL and Barry, IL.
1
Start on East Washington Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·East Washington Street
2
Turn right onto South 11th Street
3.0 mi·6 min·South 11th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn slight right
411 ft·20 sec
4
Turn straight onto East Stevenson Drive
0.4 mi·48 sec·East Stevenson Drive
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn slight left onto I 55 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·I 55 Business
6
Take the ramp onto I 55 Business
354 ft·6 sec·I 55 Business
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 72 West: Jacksonville
8
Merge onto I 72; US 36
77 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 72; US 36
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward Barry
10
Turn left onto Township Road 1745E
409 ft·11 sec·Township Road 1745E
11
Continue on County Highway 4
0.2 mi·32 sec·County Highway 4
12
Continue on Rodgers Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Rodgers Street
13
Arrive at destination
Rodgers Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 35 minutes, this route offers great flexibility for departure times. You won't need to plan for extensive stops, but it's always wise to take a break if you feel tired. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 76.6 miles on I 72, so plan accordingly if you prefer more frequent breaks. With a fuel cost of around $13, it's a budget-friendly trip, so ensuring your tank is full before you leave Springfield is a sensible step.
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 41.2 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.6 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.2 miles or 49m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barry, 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 82.4 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Springfield, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 72 for about 76.6 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 81.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|South 11th Street
Turn right onto South 11th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
3.2 mi into trip|~7m in|East Stevenson Drive
Turn straight onto East Stevenson Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
4.4 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 72 West: Jacksonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 72 West: Jacksonville
3
4.8 mi into trip|~10m in|I 72; US 36
Merge onto I 72; US 36
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward Barry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Barry
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.88 one way
$25.76 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.14
$28.29
premium
$4.89
$15.86
$31.71
diesel
$5.61
$18.19
$36.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.7
0
$8.65
$3.96
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.21
$3.30
EV Truck/SUV
33
0
$11.54
$5.27
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 17, 2026
Origin
Springfield, IL
Late night
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 18 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 5:21PM CDT until April 17 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued April 17 at 5:17PM CDT until April 17 at 6:15PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Barry, IL
Late night
in Barry on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Waverly, IL
41 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
20 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 35m 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.
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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 94% of this 82.4-mile trip. The majority of your travel will be on I 72, where you'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of 76.6 miles. This means the drive is largely about covering distance efficiently, with limited deviations from the main interstate. While I 55 Business and South 11th Street will be part of your journey, the character remains predominantly that of a faster-paced highway drive, minimizing time spent on slower local roads.
94% 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: 76.6 mi on I 72.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and South 11th Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South 11th Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Springfield, IL to Barry, IL is easy. At 1h 35m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South 11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (East Stevenson Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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
The longest stretch is about 76.6 miles on I 72. 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: at 0.2 miles (South 11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (East Stevenson Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Barry, IL before heading back.
