Origin
Springfield, IL
Morning in Springfield on Sunday
Local time
6:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Springfield, IL to Blue Mound, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
45.9 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Blue Mound, IL
Siarhei Nester
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Illinois Midwest, the 45.9-mile journey from Springfield to Blue Mound is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 54 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, requiring no overnight stays. You will spend roughly $7 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for a short-haul drive. By utilizing a combination of I-72, IL-48, and US-51, you can expect a highly efficient transit between these two points. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, the simplicity of this drive allows for great flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 72 | 29.5 mi | 31m |
| IL 48 | 9 mi | 10m |
| US 51 | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Clear Lake Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| US 36 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North 12th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Railroad Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 72
— 29.5 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, IL and Blue Mound, 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 right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 133B
Toward US 51 South: Pana
7
Merge onto US 51
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 51
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
9
Merge onto IL 48
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
IL 48
10
Arrive at destination
IL 48
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.9 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.8 — 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
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue
Turn straight onto IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
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
6
32.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 51 South: Pana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 133B
Toward US 51 South: Pana
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.18 one way
$14.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.83 | $17.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.13 | $20.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.43 | $2.94 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Blue Mound, IL
Morning in Blue Mound on Sunday
Local time
6:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Riverton, IL
23 mi in
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
24 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
54m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time at cruising speeds, highlighted by a 29.5-mile uninterrupted stretch along I-72. The drive transitions from the interstate environment onto IL-48 and US-51, shifting the pace as you exit the highway system. It is a functional, no-nonsense route designed for speed rather than technical maneuvering. Expect a consistent, steady driving experience that relies on major road infrastructure to get you to your destination efficiently.
91% 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: 29.5 mi on I 72.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and IL 48. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Washington Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 45.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.4 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Blue Mound, 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 →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.
Arriving in Blue Mound, IL
Full guide →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 54m. Total distance: 45.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.5 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: near the start (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Blue Mound, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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