Springfield, IL to Lemont, IL is 179.5 miles and takes about 3 hours 21 minutes via I 55 and Lemont Road, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Illinois, making it a straightforward hop north. The profile is overwhelmingly highway, so expect efficient travel for most of the distance. It’s a practical choice for a single-day trip, especially if you're looking to cover ground quickly between these two points.
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
89.7 miles from Springfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
173.2 mi
3h 9m
Lemont Road
2.7 mi
4m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
East Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North 12th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
State Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Illinois Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 173.2 mi, about 3h 9m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,735 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,173
Quietest
2 AM
~169 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.3×
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 Lemont, 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
115 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, PeoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 271AToward Lemont Road SouthUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto Lemont Road
2.7 mi·4 min·Lemont Road
10
Continue on State Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·State Street
11
Turn left onto East Illinois Street
505 ft·18 sec·East Illinois Street
12
Turn left onto Lemont Street
191 ft·14 sec·Lemont Street
13
Turn left onto Main Street
455 ft·18 sec·Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
West New Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 21 minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving Springfield in the morning should allow you to reach Lemont with plenty of daylight remaining. You'll have one planned stop on the route, but with a drive this length, you can be flexible with breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on I 55 is over 173 miles; planning your fuel stop before you hit that long segment is a good idea.
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 89.7 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 173.2 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 39 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.7 miles or 1h 40m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lemont, 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 179.5 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 173.2 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 179.3 — 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
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
7
176.2 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward Lemont Road South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 271A
Toward Lemont Road South
5
179.3 mi into trip|~3h 21m in|East Illinois Street
Turn left onto East Illinois Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.51 one way
$53.02 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$29.26
$58.53
premium
$4.72
$33.33
$66.66
diesel
$4.80
$33.89
$67.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.9
0
$18.85
$8.62
Efficient EV
44.9
0
$15.71
$7.18
EV Truck/SUV
71.8
0
$25.13
$11.49
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Springfield, IL
Morning
in Springfield on Monday
Local time
6:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
N 6 mph63% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:16PM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:38PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Lemont, IL
Morning
in Lemont on Monday
Local time
6:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Smoke
NE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:16PM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:38PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
85°F
Bloomington, IL
90 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
6 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
3h 21m 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...
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 179.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 96% of the 179.5 miles on high-speed roads like I 55. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 173.2 miles on I 55, meaning fewer turns and more consistent speeds for the bulk of your travel. Surface roads, including Lemont Road and Clear Lake Avenue, will come into play for the final few miles as you approach Lemont.
96% 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: 173.2 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Lemont Road. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North 12th 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 179.5 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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
780 ft538 ft
Total Climb
325 ft
Total Descent
319 ft
Highest Point
780 ft
~76.9 mi in
Elevation Range
242 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 Lemont, 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 21m. Total distance: 179.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 173.2 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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: 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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Lemont, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
