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Trip from Creve Coeur, IL to Springfield, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 25m

Distance

72.1 mi

116 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 18m ★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m

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

village in Illinois, United States

Creve Coeur, IL

Wikimedia Commons

capital city of Illinois and county seat of Sangamon County

Springfield, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 72.1-mile drive between Creve Coeur, IL, and Springfield, IL, is an easy 1 hour and 25-minute trip, making it a perfect candidate for a day trip. You'll spend 91% of your time on the highway, primarily using I-155, I-55, and I-74 to connect these two Midwest locations. With an estimated fuel cost of around $11, this is a budget-friendly journey. The route is focused on efficient travel, so expect a practical, no-frills experience designed to get you to your destination smoothly. You won't need an overnight stop for this short distance, offering plenty of flexibility for your schedule.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 72.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 72.1-mile journey. The majority of your time will be spent on interstates, with I-155, I-55, and I-74 forming the backbone of this route. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 31.8 miles on I-155, so be prepared for a significant period of consistent highway speeds. This profile means the drive is geared towards efficiency rather than scenic exploration, offering a predictable and direct path between Creve Coeur and Springfield.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 155 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 155 and I 55. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Rusche Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 72.1 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 0.1 miles (Rusche Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 69.3 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Rusche Street

Turn right onto Rusche Street

Navigation decision point

4
7.6 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the exit toward I 155 South: Lincoln

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 155 South: Lincoln
5
69.3 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue

Merge onto IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue

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

Use the straight lane.
6
71.9 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | North 7th Street

Turn left onto North 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
7
71.9 mi into trip | ~1h 24m 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 155 31.8 mi 34m
I 55 28.7 mi 31m
I 74 4.8 mi 5m
Clear Lake Avenue 2.1 mi 4m
Pekin Avenue 1.4 mi 3m
East Washington Street 0.7 mi 1m
East Jefferson Street 0.4 mi 1m
South Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 155 — 31.8 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Creve Coeur Avenue

355 ft · 11 sec · South Creve Coeur Avenue
2

Turn right onto Rusche Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Rusche Street
3

Continue on Pekin Avenue

1.4 mi · 3 min · Pekin Avenue
4

Turn right onto IL 8; IL 116; IL 29

0.2 mi · 13 sec · South Main Street
5

Turn right onto East Washington Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Washington Street
6

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 58 sec
7

Merge onto I 74

4.8 mi · 5 min · I 74
8

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 155 South: Lincoln
9

Continue on I 155

32 mi · 34 min · I 155
10

Merge onto I 55

29 mi · 31 min · I 55
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
12

Merge onto IL 97

2.1 mi · 4 min · Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on IL 97

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Turn left onto North 7th Street

406 ft · 18 sec · North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15

Turn left onto East Washington Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16

Arrive at destination

East Washington Street

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 36 mi from Creve Coeur, IL · 42m into the drive

Downtown Mount Pulaski, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mount Pulaski, IL

36 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Morton, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Delavan, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36 miles from Creve Coeur, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.27 one way

$22.54 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $12.38 $24.75
premium $4.89 $13.87 $27.75
diesel $5.61 $15.92 $31.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.6 0 $7.57 $3.46
Efficient EV 18 0 $6.31 $2.88
EV Truck/SUV 28.8 0 $10.09 $4.61

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (68% 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

Creve Coeur, IL

Morning in Creve Coeur on Friday

Local time

10:33 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Springfield, IL

Morning in Springfield on Friday

Local time

10:33 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

1h 25m 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 Creve Coeur, IL to Springfield, IL covers 72.1 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 155, I 55, I 74. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 36 miles from Creve Coeur, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.27 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 72.1 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 0.1 miles (Rusche Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 69.3 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Creve Coeur, 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.

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.

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