The drive from Clarendon Hills, IL to Springfield, IL covers 184 miles and takes about 3h 30m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 55, Kingery Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 116.9 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
92 miles from Clarendon Hills, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 184 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 30m highway drive covering 184 miles, with most of the trip on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. The longest continuous stretch is about 116.9 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 116.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near IL 83 / Kingery Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 184 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 1.2 miles (IL 83 / Kingery Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.3 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.
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|IL 83 / Kingery Highway
Merge onto IL 83 / Kingery Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.9 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Joliet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Joliet
8
121.3 mi into trip|~2h 19m 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
183.8 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
183.9 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|East Washington Street
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...
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.77 one way
$57.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.58
$63.17
premium
$4.89
$35.41
$70.82
diesel
$5.61
$40.62
$81.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.2
0
$19.32
$8.83
Efficient EV
46
0
$16.10
$7.36
EV Truck/SUV
73.6
0
$25.76
$11.78
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 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 16, 2026
Origin
Clarendon Hills, IL
Late night
in Clarendon Hills on Saturday
Local time
3:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springfield, IL
Late night
in Springfield on Saturday
Local time
3:29 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
9 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 30m 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 Clarendon Hills, IL to Springfield, IL covers 184 miles and takes about 3h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 55, Kingery Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 92 miles from Clarendon Hills, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.77 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 184 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 1.2 miles (IL 83 / Kingery Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Clarendon Hills, IL to Springfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
