This 94.4-mile drive from Altamont, IL to Springfield, IL is a straightforward journey perfect for a single day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 3 minutes to complete. The route primarily utilizes I 70, with portions of West Springfield Road and South Superior Street closer to your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of $15, this is an economical option for exploring the Midwest. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of highway and local road experiences. Given its manageable distance and duration, this trip offers flexibility for departures and pacing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.2 miles from Altamont, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 94.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive experience, with about 35% of the journey on highways, predominantly I 70. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 19.4 miles on I 70, offering a consistent pace for a good portion of the trip. As you approach Springfield, the roads transition to West Springfield Road and South Superior Street, indicating a shift from the open highway to more local roadways. This blend means you'll experience both efficient travel and a more in-town feel as you near your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 19.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
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 94.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 20.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51 miles (IL 29 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I-70 West: St Louis
Navigation decision point
Toward I-70 West: St Louis
6
20.8 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward US 51 (Kennedy Boulevard): Vandalia, Pana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 63
Toward US 51 (Kennedy Boulevard): Vandalia, Pan...
5
51 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|IL 29 / West Washington Street
Turn left onto IL 29 / West Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
94.2 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
94.3 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
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 Altamont, IL to Springfield, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Pana along the way.
Pana
20.8 mi in|~24m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
19.4 mi
20m
West Springfield Road
15.7 mi
18m
South Superior Street
15.1 mi
17m
County Road 875 East
11.1 mi
12m
IL 29
8.8 mi
12m
N 2000 East Road
5.4 mi
7m
East Park Street
5.3 mi
7m
State Route 29
5.1 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 19.4 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altamont, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Main Street
2
Continue on IL 128
0.6 mi·1 min·Farina Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·45 sec
Toward I-70 West: St Louis
4
Merge onto I 70
19 mi·20 min·I 70
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·33 sec
Exit 63Toward US 51 (Kennedy Boulevard): Vandalia, Pana
6
Turn right onto US 51
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Kennedy Boulevard
7
Continue on US 51
11 mi·12 min·County Road 875 East
8
Continue on US 51
15 mi·17 min·South Superior Street
9
Continue on US 51
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 2400 East
10
Continue on US 51
0.6 mi·2 min·Fair Avenue
11
Continue on US 51
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Poplar Street
12
Turn left onto IL 16
0.4 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
13
Turn right onto South State Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·South State Street
14
Turn left onto IL 29
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Washington Street
15
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·N 2000 East Road
16
Continue on IL 29
5.1 mi·7 min·State Route 29
17
Continue on East Park Street
5.3 mi·7 min·East Park Street
18
Turn right onto IL 29
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Webster Street
19
Continue on IL 29
16 mi·18 min·West Springfield Road
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on IL 29
1.3 mi·1 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on IL 29
5.4 mi·7 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on IL 29
1.1 mi·1 min·IL 29
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn straight onto IL 29
1.0 mi·2 min·IL 29
24
Turn left onto IL 97
1.8 mi·3 min·Clear Lake Avenue
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi·1 min·East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft·18 sec·North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
27
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
28
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 94.4-mile trip, you have the advantage of flexibility. Departing anytime in the morning should allow you to arrive in Springfield with ample time to explore. While no specific stops are data-indicated, consider breaking up the drive with a brief rest if needed, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $15 for the entire 2-hour journey; it's always wise to start with a full tank. A practical tip for this route: pay attention to the transition from I 70 to the local roads as you enter Springfield, as this change can sometimes be abrupt.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.2 miles from Altamont, IL, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.4 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.2 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
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 Altamont, 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 Altamont, IL
This is one driving day of about 94.4 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Altamont, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 19.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.2 mi from Altamont, IL
· 54m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.76 one way
$29.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.20
$32.41
premium
$4.89
$18.17
$36.33
diesel
$5.61
$20.84
$41.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.3
0
$9.91
$4.53
Efficient EV
23.6
0
$8.26
$3.78
EV Truck/SUV
37.8
0
$13.22
$6.04
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Altamont, IL
Morning
in Altamont on Friday
Local time
7:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Morning
in Springfield on Friday
Local time
7:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
25 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
2h 3m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Altamont, IL to Springfield, IL covers 94.4 miles and takes about 2h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, West Springfield Road, South Superior Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.2 miles from Altamont, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.76 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94.4 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 20.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51 miles (IL 29 / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Altamont, IL to Springfield, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Pana along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
