Origin
Lacon, IL
Night in Lacon on Friday
Local time
10:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lacon, 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
1h 40m
Distance
98.8 mi
159 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lacon, IL
Emilio Sánchez Hernández
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 98.8-mile journey from Lacon, IL, to Springfield, IL, is a straightforward, single-day trip taking approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, it's an economical choice for a quick excursion within the Midwest. The drive primarily utilizes IL 29 and State Route 29, offering a local feel without significant highway time, as the highway share is 0%. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. You'll experience a turn-heavy local drive that connects two points within Illinois.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.4 miles from Lacon, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 98.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 98.8-mile stretch, with no highway segments to speak of. The route predominantly follows Railroad Street and then transitions to IL 29 and State Route 29. While there isn't a defined 'longest stretch' provided, the nature of local roads means you'll encounter more frequent turns and varying speed limits compared to an interstate. This is a driving experience focused on navigating through towns and local landscapes rather than covering vast distances at high speed. The constant changes in direction will keep you engaged behind the wheel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Railroad Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lacon, IL to Springfield, IL is easy. At 1h 40m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lacon, IL to Springfield, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad Street | — | — |
| IL 29 | — | — |
| State Route 29 | — | — |
| North Galena Road | — | — |
| Northeast Adams Street | — | — |
| Northeast Jefferson Avenue | — | — |
| I 74 East | — | — |
| Murray Baker Bridge | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Railroad Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lacon, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on 5th Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
5th Street
2
Turn left onto Railroad Street
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
Railroad Street
3
Continue on IL 29
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
IL 29
4
Continue on North State Route 29
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
North State Route 29
5
Continue on North Galena Road
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Galena Road
6
Continue on North Galena Road
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
North Galena Road
7
Continue on Northeast Adams Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Adams Street
8
Continue on Northeast Jefferson Avenue
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast Jefferson Avenue
9
Take the ramp sharp left toward I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pekin
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 74 East, IL 29 South: Bloomington, Pekin
10
Merge slight left onto Murray Baker Bridge
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Murray Baker Bridge
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 155 South: Lincoln
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 155 South: Lincoln
12
Continue straight
32 mi
·
34 min
13
Merge slight left
29 mi
·
31 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward IL 97 West
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
IL 97 West
15
Merge slight left onto Clear Lake Avenue
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Clear Lake Avenue
16
Continue on East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
17
Turn left onto North 7th Street
407 ft
·
19 sec
·
North 7th Street
18
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Washington Street
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 40-minute drive, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour and allow for a relaxed start. Since the route is only 98.8 miles and has a fuel cost of around $15, you have plenty of flexibility for spontaneous stops. Keep an eye on your GPS as you'll be on local roads like IL 29 and State Route 29, which can involve more frequent turns than you might expect. There are no designated major stops mentioned, so plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps in one of the towns you pass through along the way.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49.4 miles from Lacon, IL, or about 50m into the drive.
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 22 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.4 miles or 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 1h 22m
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 Lacon, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lacon, IL
This is one driving day of about 98.8 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Lacon, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.4 mi from Lacon, IL · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.4 miles from Lacon, 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
$15.45 one way
$30.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.96 | $33.92 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.01 | $38.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.81 | $43.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.37 | $4.74 |
| Efficient EV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.65 | $3.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.83 | $6.32 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Night in Springfield on Friday
Local time
10:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Delavan, IL
49 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
26 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 40m 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 Lacon, IL to Springfield, IL covers 98.8 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Railroad Street, IL 29, State Route 29. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.4 miles from Lacon, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.45 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.
The drive from Lacon, IL to Springfield, IL is easy. At 1h 40m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lacon, IL to Springfield, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lacon, IL to Springfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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