Springfield, IL to Bellevue, IL is 78 miles and takes about 1h 31m via I-155 and I-55, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Illinois on well-maintained highways. Given the relatively short distance and minimal time commitment, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. It offers a straightforward path between two points in the same state, making it a practical choice for local travel or a segment of a larger Midwestern road trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39 miles from Springfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 155
32 mi
34m
I 55
29.2 mi
31m
I 474
9.3 mi
9m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
West Plank Road
1.3 mi
2m
I 74
1 mi
1m
South Airport Road
0.7 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 155
— 32 mi, about 34m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 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 Bellevue, 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 left at fork onto I 155
32 mi·34 min·I 155
Exit 127Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
8
Merge onto I 74
1.0 mi·1 min·I 74
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474
9.3 mi·9 min·I 474
Exit 99Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward Airport Road
11
Turn right onto South Airport Road
0.7 mi·1 min·South Airport Road
12
Turn sharp left onto IL 116
1.3 mi·2 min·West Plank Road
13
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South Main Street
14
Turn left onto West Closen Road
72 ft·3 sec·West Closen Road
15
Arrive at destination
West Closen Road
Trip Plan
For this 1h 31m drive, you have significant flexibility with your departure time. Since it's a short trip, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour traffic in Springfield and still have ample daylight. With only 78 miles, you likely won't need more than one brief stop, perhaps for fuel or a quick break. The fuel cost is estimated at $12, so plan accordingly. Keep an eye out for the transition off the interstate system as you near Bellevue, as the final approach will be on standard roads.
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 39 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 miles or 45m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellevue, 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 78 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Springfield, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 155 for about 32 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 39 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 66 — 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
7
32.2 mi into trip|~38m in|I 155
Keep slight left at fork onto I 155 toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 127
Toward I 155 North: Peoria, Hartsburg
5
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 West: Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 74 West: Peoria
7
66 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 474
Keep slight left at fork onto I 474 toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 99
Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.09 one way
$24.19 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$13.26
$26.52
premium
$4.93
$15.13
$30.27
diesel
$5.60
$17.19
$34.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.19
$3.74
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.83
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.92
$4.99
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Aug 30, 2026
Origin
Springfield, IL
Morning
in Springfield on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Cloudy
S 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Bellevue, IL
Morning
in Bellevue on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
64°F
Delavan, IL
39 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 31m 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?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 92% of the 78 miles on interstates like I-155 and I-55. You'll experience a longest stretch of 32 miles on I-155, offering a good stretch of uninterrupted cruising. Expect the highway portion to conclude as you approach your destination, transitioning to surface roads for the final miles. The extensive highway share means you'll encounter relatively high-speed travel and frequent, albeit spaced, exit ramps.
92% 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: 32 mi on I 155.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 155 and I 55. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Washington Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78 miles you will encounter 13 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 (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.2 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
737 ft446 ft
Total Climb
449 ft
Total Descent
374 ft
Highest Point
737 ft
~66.9 mi in
Elevation Range
291 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 Bellevue, IL, road signs point toward Hartsburg and Rock Island.
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 1h 31m. Total distance: 78 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32 miles on I 155. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Bellevue, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 32.2 miles (I 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bellevue, IL before heading back.
