Spanning 237 miles across the Illinois heartland, this trip from Springfield to Guilford is a straightforward journey that typically takes 4 hours and 56 minutes. Because the drive is manageable within a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. You can expect to spend approximately $36 on fuel, making this an economical excursion within the Midwest. The route relies heavily on major arteries like I-74, I-155, and IL-84 to keep you moving efficiently. Whether you are heading north for a weekend getaway or a quick visit, this drive offers a reliable connection between these two Illinois destinations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
118.5 miles from Springfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
73.4 mi
1h 18m
IL 84
41.2 mi
1h 1m
I 155
32 mi
34m
I 55
29.2 mi
31m
Main Street
14.4 mi
21m
I 474
14 mi
14m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9.3 mi
9m
South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road
8.1 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 73.4 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, IL and Guilford, 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
14 mi·14 min·I 474
Exit 99Toward I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island
10
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
11
Merge onto I 74
72 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 74
12
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110
9.3 mi·9 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 1Toward IL 84: East Moline, Savanna
14
Keep slight right at fork
158 ft·3 sec
15
Turn right onto IL 84
41 mi·1 hr 1 min·IL 84
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 52; IL 64; IL 84
1.1 mi·2 min·Chicago Avenue
17
Continue on US 52; IL 64; IL 84
14 mi·21 min·Main Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto IL 84
4.9 mi·7 min·Washington Street
19
At end of road, turn right onto US 20
1.7 mi·2 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
20
Turn left onto CR 4
8.1 mi·14 min·South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road
21
Turn left onto West Rawlins Road
1.9 mi·4 min·West Rawlins Road
22
Continue on West Guilford Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·West Guilford Road
23
Arrive at destination
West Guilford Road
Trip Plan
Planning a single-day trip is your best strategy here, as the sub-five-hour duration gives you plenty of flexibility to depart when it suits your schedule. Since you only have one planned stop on the itinerary, try to time your break to coincide with the transition between major highway segments to maximize your efficiency. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer interstate stretches to ensure you don't need to detour for gas in the middle of a 73-mile run. Because the route is entirely within Illinois, you won't face any time zone changes or regional border complications. Use the $36 fuel estimate as a baseline, but consider keeping a little extra in your travel budget for fluctuations in pump prices along the interstate.
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 118.5 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.4 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 52 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.5 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guilford, 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 237 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 I 74 for about 73.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 162.7 — 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 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
6
162.7 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Take the exit toward IL 84: East Moline, Savanna
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1
Toward IL 84: East Moline, Savanna
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.05 one way
$74.10 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$40.68
$81.36
premium
$4.89
$45.61
$91.22
diesel
$5.61
$52.33
$104.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.1
0
$24.88
$11.38
Efficient EV
59.3
0
$20.74
$9.48
EV Truck/SUV
94.8
1
$33.18
$15.17
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Springfield, IL
Night
in Springfield on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Guilford, IL
Night
in Guilford on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
29 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
4h 56m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 84% of your journey is spent on high-speed roads that prioritize efficiency over winding backroads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, especially during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 73.4 miles on I-74. While the route involves significant interstate driving, the transition to IL-84 provides a change of pace from the heavier traffic patterns of the main highway corridors. This is a practical drive designed for those who want to cover ground quickly without the technical demands of local roads. Prepare for a consistent, predictable drive that allows you to focus on the road ahead rather than navigating complex turns.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.4 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and IL 84. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 237 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 155): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
837 ft572 ft
Total Climb
433 ft
Total Descent
277 ft
Highest Point
837 ft
~135.4 mi in
Elevation Range
266 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 Guilford, IL, road signs point toward Hartsburg, Rock Island and Savanna.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 56m. Total distance: 237 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.4 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Guilford, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 64.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Guilford, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
