Origin
Lake Forest, IL
Afternoon in Lake Forest on Monday
Local time
2:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Forest, IL to Springfield, IL
Drive Time
3h 40m
Distance
222.6 mi
358 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 28m
★
6 AM
3h 40m
8 AM
4h 5m
10 AM
3h 49m
12 PM
3h 46m
3 PM
3h 50m
5 PM
4h 4m
8 PM
3h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Forest, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Forest, IL to Springfield, IL covers 222.6 miles and takes about 3h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Woodland Road, North Green Bay Road, East Deerpath for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.81 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
111.3 miles from Lake Forest, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 40m drive with frequent turns across 222.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Woodland Road 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 40m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lake Forest, IL to Springfield, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Woodland Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Green Bay Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Deerpath | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Deerpath Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Skokie Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IL 60 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| W Kennedy Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Townline Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Woodland Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Forest, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on Griffith Road
72 ft
·
3 sec
·
Griffith Road
2
Turn straight onto East Woodland Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Woodland Road
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto North Green Bay Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Green Bay Road
4
Turn right onto East Deerpath
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Deerpath
5
Take the ramp left toward Deerpath Road
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Deerpath Road
6
Merge slight left onto South Skokie Highway
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
South Skokie Highway
7
Take the exit slight right toward IL 60
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
IL 60
8
Continue on W Kennedy Road
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
W Kennedy Road
9
Continue on Townline Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Townline Road
10
Continue on East Townline Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Townline Road
11
Take the ramp left toward I 94 Toll East: Indiana
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 94 Toll East: Indiana
12
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
13
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
23 mi
·
28 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
14
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
15
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
17
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 55 South: Saint Louis
18
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
19
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
20
Take the exit slight right toward IL 97 West
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
IL 97 West
21
Merge slight left onto Clear Lake Avenue
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Clear Lake Avenue
22
Continue on East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
23
Turn left onto North 7th Street
407 ft
·
19 sec
·
North 7th Street
24
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Washington Street
25
Arrive at your destination
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 111.3 miles from Lake Forest, IL, or about 1h 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 80 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.3 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 3h
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 Lake Forest, 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 Lake Forest, IL
This is one driving day of about 222.6 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lake Forest, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 111.3 mi from Lake Forest, IL · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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 111.3 miles from Lake Forest, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Springfield, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.81 one way
$67.62 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $37.27 | $74.54 |
| premium | $4.80 | $42.02 | $84.04 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $49.45 | $98.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.8 | 0 | $23.37 | $10.68 |
| Efficient EV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.48 | $8.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89 | 1 | $31.16 | $14.25 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Monday
Local time
2:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
17 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 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 Lake Forest, IL to Springfield, IL covers 222.6 miles and takes about 3h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Woodland Road, North Green Bay Road, East Deerpath. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 111.3 miles from Lake Forest, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.81 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 straightforward 3h 40m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lake Forest, IL to Springfield, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lake Forest, IL to Springfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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