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Trip from Virginia, IL to Springfield, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

50m

Distance

32.8 mi

53 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 47m ★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Illinois, USA

Virginia, IL

Wikimedia Commons

capital city of Illinois and county seat of Sangamon County

Springfield, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Virginia to Springfield, Illinois, you can expect a quick, 32.8-mile journey that typically takes about 40 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is a straightforward drive through the heart of the Midwest. You will navigate primarily via West Springfield Street, North Main Street, and North 7th Street to reach your destination. With fuel costs estimated at around $5, it is an incredibly budget-friendly commute. Since the entire route is within the same state and region, you won't need to worry about complex travel logistics or overnight stays. It is a practical, no-fuss connection between these two Illinois communities.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
IL 125 24 mi 34m
IL 97 8.1 mi 13m
North Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
North 7th Street 0.2 mi <1m
East Washington Street 0.1 mi <1m
West Springfield Street 0.1 mi <1m
South 3rd West Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: IL 125 — 24 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Virginia, IL and Springfield, IL.

1

Start on South 3rd West Street

240 ft · 13 sec · South 3rd West Street
2

Turn right onto West Springfield Street

0.1 mi · 34 sec · West Springfield Street
3

Turn left onto IL 78

0.2 mi · 31 sec · North Main Street
4

Turn right onto IL 125

12 mi · 17 min · IL 125
5

Continue on IL 125

11 mi · 16 min · IL 125
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on IL 125

0.9 mi · 1 min · IL 125
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Continue on IL 97

8.1 mi · 13 min · IL 97
Use the straight lane.
8

Turn right onto North 7th Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · North 7th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Turn left onto East Washington Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
10

Arrive at destination

East Washington Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

village in Cass County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ashland, IL

16 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.

Popular next leg

Ashland, IL to Springfield, IL

20.9 mi · 33m

Pacing Suggestions

Grandview, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ashland, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.4 miles from Virginia, 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 5

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.6 — 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 | West Springfield Street

Turn right onto West Springfield Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | IL 78 / North Main Street

Turn left onto IL 78 / North Main Street

Navigation decision point

3
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | IL 125

Turn right onto IL 125

Navigation decision point

6
32.5 mi into trip | ~49m in | North 7th Street

Turn right onto North 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
32.6 mi into trip | ~50m in | East Washington Street

Turn left onto East Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.13 one way

$10.26 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $5.63 $11.26
premium $4.89 $6.31 $12.62
diesel $5.61 $7.24 $14.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.8 0 $3.44 $1.57
Efficient EV 8.2 0 $2.87 $1.31
EV Truck/SUV 13.1 0 $4.59 $2.10

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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

Virginia, IL

Morning in Virginia on Tuesday

Local time

9:13 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Springfield, IL

Morning in Springfield on Tuesday

Local time

9:13 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

70°F

Ashland, IL

16 mi in

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

3 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

50m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route maintains a 0% highway share. You will find yourself navigating local streets for the duration of the trip, meaning there are no long, monotonous stretches of highway to manage. In fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on West Springfield Street, highlighting the constant, localized nature of the drive. Behind the wheel, you should be prepared for frequent maneuvering through town streets. This experience is best described as a direct, hands-on transit through local corridors rather than a wide-open rural road trip.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24 mi on IL 125.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 125 and IL 97. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Springfield Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 50m drive. You will face about 5 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 (West Springfield Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IL 78 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (IL 125): Navigation decision point.

About the Cities

Starting in Virginia, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1836

The Commonwealth of Virginia is a state in the South of the United States with nearly 9 million inhabitants. Bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and the west by the Appalachian mountains, with expanses of farmland in between, Virginia has much to offer history buffs and lovers of scenic landscapes. Virginia's three largest cities are Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake.

Arriving in Springfield, IL

Full guide →

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

  • 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

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 32.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 24 miles on IL 125. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Springfield Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IL 78 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (IL 125): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Springfield, IL before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Explore more options from Virginia, IL or browse trips ending in Springfield, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.