Origin
Hickory Hills, IL
Late night in Hickory Hills on Wednesday
Local time
12:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hickory Hills, IL to Springfield, IL
Data updated 5 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 37m
Distance
188.9 mi
304 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 25m
★
6 AM
3h 37m
8 AM
4h 2m
10 AM
3h 46m
12 PM
3h 44m
3 PM
3h 47m
5 PM
4h 1m
8 PM
3h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hickory Hills, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 188.9-mile drive from Hickory Hills, IL to Springfield, IL is a straightforward journey through the Midwest, easily manageable as a single-day trip. Expect the drive to take about 3 hours and 37 minutes, with a projected fuel cost of around $30. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, making it an efficient way to get from point A to point B. With only one recommended stop, you can maintain good momentum. This trip is ideal if you're looking for a practical and relatively quick transit between these two Illinois locations.
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
94.5 miles from Hickory Hills, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The character of this drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 96% of the journey taking place on major expressways. You'll spend a significant amount of time on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I-55. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 121.2 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, indicating long periods of consistent travel. While La Grange Road is part of the route, the vast majority of your time will be spent on these high-speed arteries, offering a consistent driving experience.
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.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 121.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near West 87th Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 188.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (West 87th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 12; US 20; US 45 / La Grange Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 126.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West 87th Street
At end of road, turn left onto West 87th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 12; US 20; US 45 / La Grange Road
Turn right onto US 12; US 20; US 45 / La Grange Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
126.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m 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
188.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 36m in
|
North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
188.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 36m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 121.2 mi | 2h 15m |
| I 55 | 59.5 mi | 1h 3m |
| La Grange Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Clear Lake Avenue | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| West 87th Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| 83rd Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 121.2 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hickory Hills, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on 91st Street
101 ft
·
6 sec
·
91st Street
2
Turn right onto 83rd Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
83rd Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto West 87th Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West 87th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto US 12; US 20; US 45
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
La Grange Road
Use the right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 55 South
7
Merge onto I 55
121 mi
·
2 hr 15 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
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
Given the 3-hour and 37-minute duration, this trip is best suited for a single day. Consider departing in the morning to make the most of your daylight hours. The longest stretch of 121.2 miles means you can cover a lot of ground before needing to think about a break. Plan your fuel stop strategically, perhaps before you hit that longest stretch. The $30 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check current prices. Since it's a highway-focused drive, staying aware of traffic patterns on I-55 will be key to a smooth arrival.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 94.5 miles from Hickory Hills, IL, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.2 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.5 miles or 1h 50m 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 57m
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 Hickory Hills, 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 Hickory Hills, IL
This is one driving day of about 188.9 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hickory Hills, 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 Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 121.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.5 mi from Hickory Hills, IL · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 94.5 miles from Hickory Hills, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 121.2 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
$29.53 one way
$59.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.43 | $64.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.35 | $72.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.71 | $83.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.7 | 0 | $19.83 | $9.07 |
| Efficient EV | 47.2 | 0 | $16.53 | $7.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.6 | 0 | $26.45 | $12.09 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Springfield, IL
Late night in Springfield on Wednesday
Local time
12:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 18 mph
23% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 14 at 4:05PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Tornado Watch
Tornado Watch issued April 14 at 2:35PM CDT until April 14 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
34 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 37m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hickory Hills, IL to Springfield, IL covers 188.9 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 55, La Grange Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94.5 miles from Hickory Hills, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.53 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 is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 188.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (West 87th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles (US 12; US 20; US 45 / La Grange Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 126.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Hickory Hills, IL to Springfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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