Sumner, IL to Springfield, IL is 169.9 miles and takes about 3h 38m via 1100N and West Springfield Road, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a drive characterized by frequent turns and local road navigation, rather than a straightforward highway cruise. It's a relatively short journey, making it ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed.
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
84.9 miles from Sumner, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
1100N
50.1 mi
1h 2m
West Springfield Road
15.7 mi
18m
South Superior Street
15.1 mi
17m
300E
13.5 mi
15m
County Road 875 East
11.1 mi
12m
150E
10.4 mi
11m
IL 29
8.8 mi
12m
1050N
5.8 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
1100N
— 50.1 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sumner, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on West North Avenue
49 ft·7 sec·West North Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Christy Avenue
473 ft·14 sec·North Christy Avenue
3
Turn left onto IL 250
1.1 mi·1 min·IL 250
4
Turn right onto IL 250
95 ft·7 sec·IL 250
5
Turn left onto US 50; IL 250
50 mi·1 hr 2 min·1100N
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 50
1.0 mi·1 min·1075N
7
Continue on US 50
2.0 mi·2 min·1070N
8
Continue on US 50
5.8 mi·6 min·1050N
9
Continue on US 50
5.3 mi·8 min·East Main Street
10
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·East Poplar Street
11
Continue on US 50
2.7 mi·3 min·Poplar
12
Turn right onto US 51
10 mi·11 min·150E
13
Continue on US 51
13 mi·15 min·300E
14
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi·35 sec·US 40; US 51; IL 185
15
Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
1.6 mi·1 min·North Kennedy Boulevard
16
Continue on US 51
11 mi·12 min·County Road 875 East
17
Continue on US 51
15 mi·17 min·South Superior Street
18
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 2400 East
19
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi·2 min·Fair Avenue
20
Continue on US 51
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Poplar Street
21
Turn left onto IL 16
0.4 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
22
Turn right onto South State Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·South State Street
23
Turn left onto IL 29
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Washington Street
24
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·N 2000 East Road
25
Continue on IL 29
5.1 mi·7 min·State Route 29
26
Continue on East Park Street
5.3 mi·7 min·East Park Street
27
Turn right onto IL 29
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Webster Street
28
Continue on IL 29
16 mi·18 min·West Springfield Road
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on IL 29
1.3 mi·1 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
30
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on IL 29
1.1 mi·1 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
32
Turn straight onto IL 29
1.0 mi·2 min·IL 29
33
Turn left onto IL 97
1.8 mi·3 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the left lane.
34
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
36
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
37
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 38m estimated drive time, this is comfortably a one-day trip. You could depart in the morning and arrive well before evening. With only one stop suggested, you have plenty of flexibility to take your time or add more if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you navigate the local roads where stations might be less frequent than on major interstates. A practical tip for this route is to keep your GPS or map application active throughout, as the numerous turns on local roads can be easy to miss.
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 84.9 miles from Sumner, IL, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.1 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 37 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.9 miles or 1h 45m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springfield, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sumner, 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 Sumner, IL
This is one driving day of about 169.9 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Sumner, 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 1100N for about 50.1 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 169.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Christy Avenue
Turn left onto North Christy Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|US 50; IL 250 / 1100N
Turn left onto US 50; IL 250 / 1100N
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
126.5 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|IL 29 / West Washington Street
Turn left onto IL 29 / West Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
169.7 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
169.7 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.56 one way
$53.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.16
$58.33
premium
$4.89
$32.70
$65.39
diesel
$5.61
$37.51
$75.02
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: 59.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51
0
$17.84
$8.16
Efficient EV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
EV Truck/SUV
68
0
$23.79
$10.87
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
Sumner, IL
Late night
in Sumner on Tuesday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
WSW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 4:39PM CDT until April 29 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 4:38PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Springfield, IL
Late night
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
Brownstown, IL
85 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
8 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 38m 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 route leans heavily towards local roads, with only about 9% of the drive on highways. You'll find it's a 'turn-heavy' experience, meaning you'll be making numerous directional changes. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 50.1 miles on 1100N, offering a brief period of more consistent driving before you transition back to more intricate local routes like West Springfield Road and South Superior Street. Be prepared for a varied driving feel, shifting between open stretches and more complex city or town approaches.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.1 mi on 1100N.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Christy Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 38m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Christy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 50; IL 250 / 1100N): Lane positioning matters here; at 126.5 miles (IL 29 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.1 miles on 1100N. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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 (North Christy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 50; IL 250 / 1100N): Lane positioning matters here; at 126.5 miles (IL 29 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
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 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
