Springfield, IL to Morrison, IL is 192 miles and takes about 3h 34m via I-74, I-155, and I-55, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the heart of the Midwest. Expect a straightforward drive with minimal complexity, ideal for a quick, single-day transit. Given the relatively short duration, it offers flexibility for departure times or a leisurely pace.
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
96 miles from Springfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
73.4 mi
1h 18m
I 155
32 mi
34m
I 55
29.2 mi
31m
IL 110
25.7 mi
27m
I 474
14 mi
14m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
6.3 mi
6m
Crosby Road
5.5 mi
8m
Clear Lake Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 73.4 mi, about 1h 18m
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 Morrison, 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
6.3 mi·6 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
13
Take the exit onto IL 110
26 mi·27 min·IL 110
Exit 4BToward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward IL 78: Morrison, Prophetstown
15
Turn left onto IL 78
5.5 mi·8 min·Crosby Road
16
Continue on IL 78
0.4 mi·37 sec·Portland Avenue
17
Continue on IL 78
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Clinton Street
18
Turn left onto IL 78
0.1 mi·11 sec·East Wall Street
19
Turn right onto IL 78
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Cherry Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Cherry Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under four hours, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for an unplanned stop if needed. The longest stretch without a major exit is over 73 miles on I-74, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on that segment. There's one recommended stop, so plan around that for a break or to refuel. This short distance means you have plenty of flexibility, so don't feel pressured to rush.
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 96 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 1h 47m 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 42 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96 miles or 1h 47m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morrison, 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 192 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 159.7 — 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
159.7 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|IL 110
Take the exit onto IL 110 toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4B
Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Fa...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.77 one way
$59.54 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$32.64
$65.28
premium
$4.93
$37.25
$74.50
diesel
$5.60
$42.32
$84.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.6
0
$20.16
$9.22
Efficient EV
48
0
$16.80
$7.68
EV Truck/SUV
76.8
0
$26.88
$12.29
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Sep 7, 2026
Origin
Springfield, IL
Afternoon
in Springfield on Monday
Local time
3:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Morrison, IL
Afternoon
in Morrison on Monday
Local time
3:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°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
19 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 34m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 94% of the trip on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 73.4 miles on I-74, offering uninterrupted cruising. The profile is mostly highway, so expect a consistent driving experience with few transitions to surface streets until the final approach to Morrison.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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 I 155. 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 17 significant decision points across 192 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
810 ft583 ft
Total Climb
496 ft
Total Descent
420 ft
Highest Point
810 ft
~123.5 mi in
Elevation Range
227 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 Morrison, IL, road signs point toward Hartsburg, Rock Island and Rock Falls.
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 34m. Total distance: 192 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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 Morrison, 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.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Morrison, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
