Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
50 mi
80 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Maroa, IL
Semih Başaran
The drive from Springfield, IL to Maroa, IL covers 50 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 72, US 51, Clear Lake Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.8 miles on I 72. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.75 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 72 | 37.8 mi | 40m |
| US 51 | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| Clear Lake Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| South Wood Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Old US Hwy 51 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North 12th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, IL and Maroa, IL.
Start on East Washington Street
Turn left onto North 12th Street
Turn straight onto IL 97
Continue on I 72; US 36
Continue on I 72; US 51
Take the exit
Continue on US 51
Turn right onto Old US Hwy 51
Continue on South Wood Street
Turn left onto West Main Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25 miles from Springfield, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 49.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Depart onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto North 12th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn straight onto IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 51 North: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn left onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.75 one way
$15.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $8.50 | $17.00 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.70 | $19.40 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $11.02 | $22.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Springfield on Sunday
Local time
6:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Maroa on Sunday
Local time
6:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
66°F
Buckhart, IL
25 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
50 mi in 59m, mostly highway — 37.8 mi of that is on I 72.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and US 51. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Washington Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Springfield, IL to Maroa, IL is easy. At 59m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 0.4 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
199 ft
Total Descent
71 ft
Highest Point
728 ft
~50 mi in
Elevation Range
186 ft
Founded 1840
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 50 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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