Origin
La Grange, IL
Afternoon in La Grange on Saturday
Local time
1:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Grange, IL to Springfield, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
186.5 mi
300 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Grange, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from La Grange, IL to Springfield, IL covers 186.5 miles and takes about 3h 33m 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, Joliet Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 119.4 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.16 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
93.2 miles from La Grange, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 119.4 mi | 2h 13m |
| I 55 | 59.5 mi | 1h 3m |
| Joliet Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Clear Lake Avenue | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| South La Grange Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 119.4 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Grange, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on US 12; US 20; US 45
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
South La Grange Road
2
Turn right onto Joliet Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Joliet Road
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Joliet Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Joliet Road
Toward I 55 South
4
Merge onto I 55
119 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
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.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
7
Merge onto IL 97
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft
·
18 sec
·
North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
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 93.2 miles from La Grange, IL, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.4 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 41 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.2 miles or 1h 48m 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 53m
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 La Grange, 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 La Grange, IL
This is one driving day of about 186.5 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from La Grange, 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 119.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93.2 miles from La Grange, 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 119.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 186.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Joliet Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Joliet Road toward I 55 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South
5
4.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
123.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m 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
186.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
|
North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
186.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.16 one way
$58.31 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.01 | $64.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $35.89 | $71.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.18 | $82.35 |
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: 65.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.9 | 0 | $19.58 | $8.95 |
| Efficient EV | 46.6 | 0 | $16.32 | $7.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.6 | 0 | $26.11 | $11.94 |
Gas CO2
65 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.
Destination
Springfield, IL
Afternoon in Springfield on Saturday
Local time
1:55 PM
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 33m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
186.5 mi in 3h 33m, mostly highway — 119.4 mi of that is on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.4 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 3.7 miles in near Joliet Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 186.5 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 3.7 miles (Joliet Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.4 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 186.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119.4 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Springfield, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles (Joliet Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.4 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 123.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Springfield, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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