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Trip from Aux Sable, IL to Springfield, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 51m

Distance

147.8 mi

238 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 40m ★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 44m

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

Downtown Aux Sable, IL, IL

Aux Sable, IL

Rafał Nagrodzki

capital city of Illinois and county seat of Sangamon County

Springfield, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 147.8-mile drive from Aux Sable to Springfield, Illinois, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 51 minutes. The route is heavily highway-focused, with 83% of it on interstates, making it a straightforward journey through the heart of the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of around $23, it's an economical option for a quick getaway or a segment of a larger regional exploration. The primary roads you'll be using are I-55, East Street, and Division Street, offering a direct path to your destination. You’ll spend most of your time on the interstate, so consider this a functional commute rather than a scenic tour.

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

73.9 miles from Aux Sable, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 147.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 147.8-mile trip. With 83% of the route on high-speed roads, you'll experience a consistent pace for much of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 121.9 miles on I-55, allowing you to settle in for a significant period of driving. While the profile is predominantly interstate, you will transition onto local roads like East Street and Division Street as you approach Springfield, offering a slight change in pace before arrival. This route prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 121.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and East Street. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 22.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 147.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 22.6 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 85 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
22.3 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the exit toward I 55 South: Bloomington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
5
22.6 mi into trip | ~33m in | I 55

Merge onto I 55

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
85 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
6
147.5 mi into trip | ~2h 50m in | North 7th Street

Turn left onto North 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
7
147.6 mi into trip | ~2h 50m in | East Washington Street

Turn left onto East Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 121.9 mi 2h 10m
East Street 8.5 mi 9m
Division Street 7.9 mi 9m
Cemetery Road 4.6 mi 11m
Clear Lake Avenue 2.1 mi 4m
East Washington Street 1.3 mi 2m
East Jefferson Street 0.4 mi 1m
North 7th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 121.9 mi, about 2h 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

471 ft · 27 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto Cemetery Road

4.6 mi · 11 min · Cemetery Road
3

Turn left onto East Washington Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · East Washington Street
4

Turn left onto IL 47

7.9 mi · 9 min · Division Street
5

Continue on IL 47

8.5 mi · 9 min · East Street
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
7

Merge onto I 55

62 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

60 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
10

Merge onto IL 97

2.1 mi · 4 min · Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on IL 97

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Turn left onto North 7th Street

406 ft · 18 sec · North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
13

Turn left onto East Washington Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
14

Arrive at destination

East Washington Street

Trip Plan

Since this drive is under 3 hours, it's perfectly suited for a single-day adventure, giving you flexibility with your departure time. Plan to leave in the morning to maximize your time in Springfield, and keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without exits is over 120 miles on I-55. While there's only one recommended stop noted, it's wise to take advantage of rest areas as needed, especially during the 121.9-mile stretch on the interstate. Budgeting around $23 for fuel is a good estimate for this 147.8-mile journey.

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.9 miles from Aux Sable, IL, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.9 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 33 miles or 44m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 73.9 miles or 1h 28m 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 19m

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 Aux Sable, 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 Aux Sable, IL

This is one driving day of about 147.8 miles and 2h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Aux Sable, 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 55 for about 121.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 73.9 mi from Aux Sable, IL · 1h 28m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IL

74 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

Bloomington, IL to Springfield, IL

66.2 mi · 1h 19m

Pacing Suggestions

Fairbury, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Normal, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.9 miles from Aux Sable, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 121.9 miles.

Arriving in Springfield, IL

The final approach into Springfield, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Springfield, IL.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.11 one way

$46.21 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $25.37 $50.74
premium $4.89 $28.44 $56.89
diesel $5.61 $32.63 $65.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.3 0 $15.52 $7.09
Efficient EV 37 0 $12.93 $5.91
EV Truck/SUV 59.1 0 $20.69 $9.46

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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

Aux Sable, IL

Evening in Aux Sable on Thursday

Local time

6:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Springfield, IL

Evening in Springfield on Thursday

Local time

6:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Bloomington, IL

74 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

2h 51m 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 Aux Sable, IL to Springfield, IL covers 147.8 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, East Street, Division Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.9 miles from Aux Sable, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.11 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 147.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 22.6 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 85 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Aux Sable, IL to Springfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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