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Trip from Lewistown, IL to Springfield, IL

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 35m

Distance

58.8 mi

95 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 29m ★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 31m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Lewistown, IL, IL

Lewistown, IL

Stéphane Tendon

capital city of Illinois and county seat of Sangamon County

Springfield, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Connecting Lewistown to Springfield, this 58.8-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the heart of the Illinois Midwest. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 35 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $9, the drive is both time-efficient and cost-effective for travelers. Navigating via US 136, IL 97, and IL 78, you will transition between these routes to complete the cross-regional trek. Whether you are heading to the state capital for business or leisure, this path serves as a reliable, no-fuss connection between these two communities.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

29.4 miles from Lewistown, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 58.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This trip is characterized by a highway-focused layout, with 89% of your travel occurring on higher-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 26.1 miles on US 136. While the drive is consistent, the transition between US 136, IL 97, and IL 78 keeps the experience from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind. Expect a steady, predictable pace that allows you to cover the nearly 60-mile distance without technical challenges or complex navigation. The road personality is functional and direct, providing a stable surface for your transit across the Illinois landscape.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 136 is the longest continuous segment at about 26.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 136 and IL 97. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in near IL 78; IL 97.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Lewistown, IL to Springfield, IL is easy. At 1h 35m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles (IL 78; IL 97): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles (US 136; IL 78; IL 97): Navigation decision point; at 50.5 miles (IL 97): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

4
3.5 mi into trip | ~5m in | IL 78; IL 97

Turn right onto IL 78; IL 97

Navigation decision point

4
10.3 mi into trip | ~17m in | US 136; IL 78; IL 97

At end of road, turn left onto US 136; IL 78; IL 97

Navigation decision point

7
50.5 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | IL 97

At end of road, turn left onto IL 97

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
58.5 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | North 7th Street

Turn right onto North 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
58.7 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in | East Washington Street

Turn left onto East Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 136 26.1 mi 42m
IL 97 19.7 mi 30m
IL 78 6.7 mi 11m
East Avenue E 3.5 mi 5m
Old Salem Road 2.3 mi 3m
North 7th Street 0.2 mi <1m
East Washington Street 0.1 mi <1m
South 6th Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 136 — 26.1 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 24; IL 97

3.5 mi · 5 min · East Avenue E
2

Turn right onto IL 78; IL 97

6.7 mi · 11 min · IL 78; IL 97
3

At end of road, turn left onto US 136; IL 78; IL 97

26 mi · 42 min · US 136; IL 78; IL 97
4

Continue on IL 97; IL 123

0.1 mi · 20 sec · South 6th Street
5

Continue on IL 97; IL 123

2.3 mi · 3 min · Old Salem Road
6

Continue on IL 97; IL 123

12 mi · 17 min · IL 97; IL 123
7

At end of road, turn left onto IL 97

8.1 mi · 13 min · IL 97
Use the straight lane.
8

Turn right onto North 7th Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · North 7th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Turn left onto East Washington Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
10

Arrive at destination

East Washington Street

Trip Plan

Because this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local traffic. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily complete the entire 1 hour and 35-minute duration in one go, but keeping your gas tank topped off before leaving Lewistown is a smart way to manage your $9 fuel estimate. Pay close attention to the transitions between US 136, IL 97, and IL 78, as staying alert during these road changes will ensure a smooth arrival. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider timing your departure to miss midday congestion near Springfield. Ultimately, the lack of scheduled stops means you are in total control of your arrival time.

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 29.4 miles from Lewistown, IL, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.1 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 13 miles or 21m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 29.4 miles or 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 1h 20m

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 Lewistown, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lewistown, IL

This is one driving day of about 58.8 miles and 1h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Lewistown, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 136 for about 26.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29.4 mi from Lewistown, IL · 48m into the drive

city in Menard County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Petersburg, IL

29 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.

Popular next leg

Petersburg, IL to Springfield, IL

22.7 mi · 36m

Pacing Suggestions

Havana, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Petersburg, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.4 miles from Lewistown, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

National Monument

In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...

0 mi from route Free near mile 58.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.19 one way

$18.39 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.09 $20.19
premium $4.89 $11.32 $22.63
diesel $5.61 $12.98 $25.96

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.6 0 $6.17 $2.82
Efficient EV 14.7 0 $5.15 $2.35
EV Truck/SUV 23.5 0 $8.23 $3.76

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Lewistown, IL

Evening in Lewistown on Thursday

Local time

7:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Springfield, IL

Evening in Springfield on Thursday

Local time

7:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

75°F

Petersburg, IL

29 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

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 35m 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 Lewistown, IL to Springfield, IL covers 58.8 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 136, IL 97, IL 78. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.4 miles from Lewistown, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.19 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 Lewistown, IL to Springfield, IL is easy. At 1h 35m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles (IL 78; IL 97): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles (US 136; IL 78; IL 97): Navigation decision point; at 50.5 miles (IL 97): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lewistown, 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.

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