Origin
Louisville, KY
Afternoon in Louisville on Sunday
Local time
3:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Louisville, KY to Springfield, IL
Drive Time
5h 57m
Distance
321.5 mi
517 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
Louisville, KY
Vietnam Hidden Light
Springfield, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
The drive from Louisville, KY to Springfield, IL covers 321.5 miles and takes about 5h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South 6th Street, West Liberty Street, South 2nd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.83 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
160.7 miles from Louisville, KY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 58m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 57m drive with frequent turns across 321.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 6th 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. 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 5h 57m 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 Louisville, KY to Springfield, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 6th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Liberty Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 2nd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Clark Memorial Bridge | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 465 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 57 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 57 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 72 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South 6th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Louisville, KY and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on West Jefferson Street
256 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Jefferson Street
2
Turn left onto South 6th Street
285 ft
·
15 sec
·
South 6th Street
3
Turn left onto West Liberty Street
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Liberty Street
4
Turn left onto South 2nd Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
South 2nd Street
5
Continue on Clark Memorial Bridge
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Clark Memorial Bridge
6
Take the ramp slight left
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
7
Merge slight left
105 mi
·
1 hr 53 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 465 West, I 74West, I 465 East, I 74 East: Peoria, Cincinnati
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
I 465 West, I 74West, I 465 East, I 74 East: Peoria, Cincinnati
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria
10
Merge slight right
4.5 mi
·
5 min
11
Keep slight left
11 mi
·
12 min
12
Keep slight right
114 mi
·
2 hr 4 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 57 North: Chicago, Memphis
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 57 North: Chicago, Memphis
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
I 57 South: Memphis
15
Merge slight left
1.5 mi
·
1 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 72 West: Decatur
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 72 West: Decatur
17
Merge slight left
78 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
18
Continue on Clear Lake Avenue
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Clear Lake Avenue
19
Continue on East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
20
Turn left onto North 7th Street
407 ft
·
19 sec
·
North 7th Street
21
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Washington Street
22
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 160.7 miles from Louisville, KY, or about 2h 58m 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.7 miles or 2h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 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 Louisville, KY 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 Louisville, KY
This is one driving day of about 321.5 miles and 5h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Louisville, KY.
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 160.7 mi from Louisville, KY · 2h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
161 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 160.7 miles from Louisville, KY, 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
$48.83 one way
$97.67 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
113 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $53.83 | $107.66 |
| premium | $4.80 | $60.69 | $121.39 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $71.43 | $142.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96.5 | 1 | $33.76 | $15.43 |
| Efficient EV | 80.4 | 0 | $28.13 | $12.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 128.6 | 1 | $45.01 | $20.58 |
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Sunday
Local time
2:12 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
5 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
5h 57m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Louisville, KY to Springfield, IL covers 321.5 miles and takes about 5h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 6th Street, West Liberty Street, South 2nd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 160.7 miles from Louisville, KY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.83 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 57m 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 Louisville, KY to Springfield, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Louisville, KY to Springfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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