Origin
McHenry, IL
Afternoon in McHenry on Monday
Local time
1:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McHenry, IL to Springfield, IL
Drive Time
3h 57m
Distance
234.6 mi
378 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 44m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 23m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 4m
3 PM
4h 8m
5 PM
4h 22m
8 PM
3h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McHenry, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Springfield, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
The drive from McHenry, IL to Springfield, IL covers 234.6 miles and takes about 3h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Green Street, West Elm Street, Rand Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.63 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
117.3 miles from McHenry, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 57m drive with frequent turns across 234.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Green 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 3h 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 McHenry, IL to Springfield, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Green Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Elm Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Rand Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Belvidere Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IL 53 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 290 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 355 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 55 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Green Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McHenry, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on the route
72 ft
·
11 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left
108 ft
·
10 sec
3
Turn right onto North Green Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Green Street
4
Turn right onto West Elm Street
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
West Elm Street
5
Continue on Rand Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Rand Road
6
Continue on West Belvidere Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Belvidere Road
7
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
8
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
9
Continue straight
1.7 mi
·
1 min
10
Continue straight
1.1 mi
·
1 min
11
Continue straight
14 mi
·
20 min
12
Take the ramp right toward IL 53 South
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
IL 53 South
13
Merge slight left
4.4 mi
·
5 min
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
20 mi
·
25 min
·
I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
17
Keep slight left to continue on Joliet Road South
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Joliet Road South
18
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 55 South: Saint Louis
19
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
112 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
20
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
21
Take the exit slight right toward IL 97 West
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
IL 97 West
22
Merge slight left onto Clear Lake Avenue
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Clear Lake Avenue
23
Continue on East Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
24
Turn left onto North 7th Street
407 ft
·
19 sec
·
North 7th Street
25
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Washington Street
26
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 117.3 miles from McHenry, IL, or about 1h 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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.3 miles or 1h 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 3h 14m
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 McHenry, 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 McHenry, IL
This is one driving day of about 234.6 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from McHenry, 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 117.3 mi from McHenry, IL · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 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 117.3 miles from McHenry, 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
$35.63 one way
$71.27 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $39.28 | $78.56 |
| premium | $4.80 | $44.29 | $88.58 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $52.12 | $104.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.4 | 0 | $24.63 | $11.26 |
| Efficient EV | 58.7 | 0 | $20.53 | $9.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.8 | 1 | $32.84 | $15.01 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 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
1:18 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
16 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 57m 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 McHenry, IL to Springfield, IL covers 234.6 miles and takes about 3h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Green Street, West Elm Street, Rand Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 117.3 miles from McHenry, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.63 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 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 McHenry, IL to Springfield, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from McHenry, IL to Springfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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