If you are looking to travel from Springfield to Greenville, IL, you are facing a straightforward 77.5-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 50 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $12, it is an affordable route that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will navigate a mix of city streets and state routes, primarily utilizing I-55 Business, Washington Street, and Illinois Route 16. Since both cities are located within the same state, the cultural transition is minimal, allowing you to focus on the efficiency of the transit. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B without any mandatory stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.8 miles from Springfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55 Business
40.4 mi
44m
Washington Street
10.5 mi
18m
Illinois Route 16
7.4 mi
10m
S Main St
7.1 mi
12m
South 11th Street
3 mi
6m
West Union Avenue
2.2 mi
3m
South Main Street
1.3 mi
2m
East Harris Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55 Business
— 40.4 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, IL and City of Greenville, 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 left at fork onto I 55 Business
0.2 mi·23 sec·I 55 Business
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business
39 mi·42 min·I 55 Business
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·54 sec
Toward IL 16: Gillespie, Litchfield
10
Turn left
191 ft·5 sec
11
Turn straight onto IL 16
0.8 mi·1 min·County Road 1200 North
12
Continue on IL 16
2.2 mi·3 min·West Union Avenue
13
Continue on IL 16
7.4 mi·10 min·Illinois Route 16
14
Continue on IL 16; IL 127
0.3 mi·28 sec·South Hamilton Street
15
Turn right onto IL 16; IL 127
1.3 mi·2 min·South Main Street
16
Continue on IL 127
7.1 mi·12 min·S Main St
17
Continue on IL 127
10 mi·18 min·Washington Street
18
Turn left onto IL 127; IL 140
1.0 mi·1 min·IL 127; IL 140
19
Turn right onto North 6th Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·North 6th Street
20
Turn straight onto IL 127
0.2 mi·21 sec·West College Avenue
21
Turn right onto IL 127
0.4 mi·1 min·North 3rd Street
22
Turn left onto IL 127
0.1 mi·13 sec·West Harris Ave
23
Continue on IL 127
1.1 mi·2 min·East Harris Avenue
24
Turn left onto South Idler Lane
289 ft·10 sec·South Idler Lane
25
Turn right
474 ft·20 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to ensure your 1 hour and 50 minute travel time stays consistent. Because there are zero mandatory stops on this 77.5-mile route, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to refuel mid-journey, provided you start with a full tank. Keep your $12 fuel budget in mind when planning your total travel costs for the day. A helpful tip for this specific route is to pay close attention to the transition points between Washington Street and the highway sections, as city traffic can fluctuate before you hit the open road.
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 38.8 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.4 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.8 miles or 46m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Greenville, 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 77.5 miles and 1h 50m.
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 55 Business for about 40.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 75.8 — 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.
5
4.4 mi into trip|~9m in|I 55 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
4.6 mi into trip|~10m in|I 55 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
44 mi into trip|~52m in
Take the exit toward IL 16: Gillespie, Litchfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 16: Gillespie, Litchfield
4
75.8 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|IL 127 / North 3rd Street
Turn right onto IL 127 / North 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.12 one way
$24.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.30
$26.61
premium
$4.89
$14.91
$29.83
diesel
$5.61
$17.11
$34.22
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: 27.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.14
$3.72
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.78
$3.10
EV Truck/SUV
31
0
$10.85
$4.96
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 Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Springfield, IL
Morning
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 22 mph46% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:16PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
City of Greenville, IL
Morning
in City of Greenville on Tuesday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Chance Rain Showers
S 22 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:16PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
51°F
Litchfield, 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
1 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 50m 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 drive is heavily highway-focused, with 63% of your travel taking place on major thoroughfares. You will find yourself navigating a longest uninterrupted stretch of 40.4 miles on I-55 Business, which sets a steady rhythm for the journey. The road transitions from urban navigation on Washington Street to the more open feel of Illinois Route 16. While it isn't a technical or winding drive, the shift between city infrastructure and regional highway stretches keeps the experience varied. You can expect a consistent pace throughout the 1 hour and 50 minutes, as the route is designed for direct transit rather than scenic detours.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.4 mi on I 55 Business.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 Business and Washington Street. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South 11th Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 77.5 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 0.2 miles (South 11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.6 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
681 ft530 ft
Total Climb
173 ft
Total Descent
192 ft
Highest Point
681 ft
~45.2 mi in
Elevation Range
151 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 City of Greenville, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Litchfield 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 1h 50m. Total distance: 77.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.4 miles on I 55 Business. 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 City of Greenville, 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: at 0.2 miles (South 11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.6 miles (I 55 Business): 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 City of Greenville, IL before heading back.
