Springfield, IL to Lakewood Shores, IL is 148.4 miles and takes about 2h 50m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically in Illinois, making it a straightforward journey. It's a highly highway-focused drive, so expect consistent speeds and minimal slowdowns. With a recommended one-day duration, you can easily complete this trip without needing an overnight stay. The relatively short distance and predictable route make it a convenient option for a quick getaway or a focused drive.
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
74.2 miles from Springfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
140.7 mi
2h 31m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
Stripmine Road
1.6 mi
2m
Sunset Drive
0.7 mi
2m
South Park Street
0.5 mi
2m
West Balitmore Street
0.5 mi
1m
Washington Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Robert Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 140.7 mi, about 2h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, IL and Lakewood Shores, 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
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, PeoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward IL 129 South: Wilmington
9
Turn straight onto IL 129
0.4 mi·40 sec·Washington Street
10
Turn left onto CH 29
1.6 mi·2 min·Stripmine Road
11
At end of road, turn left onto IL 53
256 ft·6 sec·West Baltimore Street
12
Continue on IL 53
0.5 mi·1 min·West Balitmore Street
13
Turn right onto South Park Street
0.5 mi·2 min·South Park Street
14
Continue on Barnes Drive
0.1 mi·31 sec·Barnes Drive
15
Continue on West Kahler Road
482 ft·23 sec·West Kahler Road
16
Turn right onto Sunset Drive
0.7 mi·2 min·Sunset Drive
17
Continue on Robert Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Robert Street
18
Arrive at destination
Robert Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 50m duration, this is a perfect one-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $23, you won't need to worry extensively about frequent refueling or long breaks. The longest stretch on I 55 is over 140 miles, so plan to take a break before or after this segment if you prefer shorter driving periods. Keep an eye out for signs indicating services along I 55, as they will be your primary options for rest areas.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.2 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.7 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.2 miles or 1h 23m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood Shores, 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 148.4 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 55 for about 140.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 61.5 — 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
4
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
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
8
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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.20 one way
$46.40 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.47
$50.95
premium
$4.89
$28.56
$57.12
diesel
$5.61
$32.76
$65.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.5
0
$15.58
$7.12
Efficient EV
37.1
0
$12.99
$5.94
EV Truck/SUV
59.4
0
$20.78
$9.50
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 20, 2026
Origin
Springfield, IL
Morning
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
7:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakewood Shores, IL
Morning
in Lakewood Shores on Tuesday
Local time
7:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Sunny
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 1:05PM CDT until April 21 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 1:04PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
68°F
Bloomington, IL
74 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
13 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
2h 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 overwhelmingly a highway-focused experience, with 95% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 55, covering a substantial longest stretch of 140.7 miles on this interstate. This means you can anticipate a consistent driving pace for most of the trip. The route begins on local roads like Clear Lake Avenue and Stripmine Road before merging onto the main interstate, offering a clear transition from local to high-speed travel. Expect minimal diversions from the highway, allowing for an efficient transit.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 140.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Clear Lake Avenue. You will hit about 12 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 Effort5/10
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 148.4 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: near the start (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Lakewood Shores, 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 2h 50m. Total distance: 148.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 140.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Lakewood Shores, IL before heading back.
