Springfield, IL to Danvers, IL is 76.1 miles and takes about 1h 31m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward drive. With over 80% of the route on the highway, you'll experience a mostly high-speed transit. The relatively short duration suggests it's best suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from Springfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
61.8 mi
1h 6m
East 1400 North Road
6.2 mi
8m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
North 475 East Road
2.3 mi
3m
West Market Street
1.8 mi
3m
South West Street
0.7 mi
1m
East Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North 12th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 61.8 mi, about 1h 6m
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 Danvers, 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
3.3 mi·3 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 160Toward US 150, IL 9: PekinUse the slight right lane.
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 150; IL 9
1.8 mi·3 min·West Market Street
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on IL 9
6.2 mi·8 min·East 1400 North Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto IL 9
2.3 mi·3 min·North 475 East Road
12
Keep slight right at fork onto South West Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South West Street
13
Arrive at destination
North West Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 31m duration, leaving anytime in the morning or afternoon provides ample flexibility. Since the drive is under 80 miles, you won't need to worry about extensive fuel stops; a budget of $12 should cover it. Consider making your departure after morning rush hour to avoid any potential congestion leaving Springfield. The main highway portion on I 55 means you can cover ground quickly, so plan to enjoy the final stretch on surface roads, which will likely feel more relaxed.
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 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.8 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 38 miles or 44m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Danvers, 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 76.1 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 55 for about 61.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 65.2 — 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
8
64.8 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 160
Toward US 150, IL 9: Pekin
6
65.2 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|US 150; IL 9 / West Market Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 150; IL 9 / West Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.80 one way
$23.60 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$12.94
$25.87
premium
$4.93
$14.76
$29.53
diesel
$5.60
$16.77
$33.55
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: 26.6 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
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.66
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.65
$4.87
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 29, 2026
Origin
Springfield, IL
Afternoon
in Springfield on Friday
Local time
12:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Partly Sunny
S 6 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 6:10AM CDT until August 29 at 6:32PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 28 at 8:36PM CDT until August 30 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Danvers, IL
Afternoon
in Danvers on Friday
Local time
12:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 8 to 12 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 6:10AM CDT until August 29 at 6:32PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 28 at 8:36PM CDT until August 30 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis 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
5 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 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 drive is predominantly highway, with 81% of the 76.1 miles on I 55. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 61.8 miles on I 55, so expect extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads like East 1400 North Road and Clear Lake Avenue will occur later in the drive, offering a change of pace from the interstate.
81% 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: 61.8 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and East 1400 North Road. 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 (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
813 ft549 ft
Total Climb
336 ft
Total Descent
123 ft
Highest Point
813 ft
~76.1 mi in
Elevation Range
264 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 Danvers, 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 1h 31m. Total distance: 76.1 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 (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.8 miles on I 55. 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 Danvers, 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 (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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Danvers, IL before heading back.
