Spanning 193.3 miles across the Illinois heartland, this route connects Springfield to Cherry Valley in approximately 3 hours and 32 minutes. You will primarily navigate via North 12th Street, Clear Lake Avenue, and I-55 North to make the journey. Given the manageable duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $29 for fuel to cover the distance. Both your origin and destination are located within the Midwest, offering a consistent regional feel as you travel north through the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
96.6 miles from Springfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 51
120.7 mi
2h 9m
I 55
66.1 mi
1h 11m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
I 39
2.2 mi
2m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
0.7 mi
1m
State Street
0.4 mi
<1m
East Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North 12th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 51
— 120.7 mi, about 2h 9m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,955 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,420
Quietest
2 AM
~176 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 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 Cherry Valley, 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
7.6 mi·8 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
8
Take the exit onto US 51
121 mi·2 hr 9 min·US 51
Exit 164Toward I 39 North: RockfordUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 39; US 20; US 51
2.2 mi·2 min·I 39; US 20; US 51
10
Take the exit onto US 20
0.2 mi·30 sec·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Exit 122AToward US 20 East: Belvedere
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 20
0.5 mi·50 sec·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Exit 122AToward US 20 East: Belvedere
12
Turn right onto Mill Road
0.2 mi·26 sec·Mill Road
13
Turn left onto State Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·State Street
14
Arrive at destination
East State Street
Trip Plan
Planning for this 3 hour and 32 minute drive is straightforward, though you should account for the fact that the entire route consists of local roads rather than high-speed highways. Since you have one planned stop along the way, use that time to stretch your legs and refuel your vehicle, keeping your $29 budget in mind. Leaving early in the morning can help you avoid potential congestion on the local streets that make up the start of your journey. Take advantage of the flexibility this short distance provides by adjusting your pace to accommodate the frequent turns. Prioritize checking your navigation frequently, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires precise maneuvering to stay on track.
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 96.6 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.7 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 43 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.6 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cherry Valley, 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 193.3 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 US 51 for about 120.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 192.3 — 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
6
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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
7
69.1 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|US 51
Take the exit onto US 51 toward I 39 North: Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 164
Toward I 39 North: Rockford
6
192.3 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway toward US 20 East: Belvedere
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 122A
Toward US 20 East: Belvedere
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.14 one way
$64.28 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$35.01
$70.01
premium
$5.18
$39.44
$78.89
diesel
$5.35
$40.71
$81.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58
0
$20.30
$9.28
Efficient EV
48.3
0
$16.91
$7.73
EV Truck/SUV
77.3
0
$27.06
$12.37
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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 May 25, 2026
Origin
Springfield, IL
Afternoon
in Springfield on Wednesday
Local time
4:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Patchy Fog
SE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 24 at 7:35PM CDT until May 25 at 1:55PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Cherry Valley, IL
Afternoon
in Cherry Valley on Wednesday
Local time
4:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Bloomington, IL
97 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
8 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 32m 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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route requires you to navigate specific local roads like North 12th Street and Clear Lake Avenue before transitioning to I-55 North. Because the highway share is 0 percent, you should prepare for a more involved driving experience rather than a high-speed cruise. The character of the road shifts as you move away from Springfield, requiring you to stay alert through the various turns and transitions. It is a practical, functional path that keeps you engaged with the local infrastructure throughout the 193.3-mile trek.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 120.7 mi on US 51.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 51 and I 55. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North 12th Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 193.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
918 ft594 ft
Total Climb
570 ft
Total Descent
443 ft
Highest Point
918 ft
~151.9 mi in
Elevation Range
324 ft
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 Cherry Valley, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.
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 3h 32m. Total distance: 193.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 120.7 miles on US 51. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Cherry Valley, 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. There are 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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. 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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Cherry Valley, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
