Origin
Pekin, IL
Night in Pekin on Wednesday
Local time
10:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pekin, IL to Springfield, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
67.3 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pekin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward trip through the Illinois Midwest, the journey from Pekin to Springfield covers 67.3 miles in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Because the distance is relatively short, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable option for a weekend outing. The path primarily utilizes a combination of Court Street, I-155, and I-55 to connect these two cities. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, the simplicity of this drive allows for a stress-free transition between these Illinois hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
33.6 miles from Pekin, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 67.3-mile route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 81% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will start by navigating local stretches like Court Street before transitioning onto the interstate system. Once you merge onto I-55, you will encounter the longest uninterrupted leg of your journey, spanning 28.7 miles of open road. The experience is best described as a practical, highway-focused drive that favors efficiency over technical turns. Expect a consistent pace as you transition from the local grid onto the faster-moving interstate lanes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 155. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Broadway Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 64.5 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Broadway Street
Turn left onto Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Court Street
Turn left onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
5
64.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue
Merge onto IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
67.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
North 7th Street
Turn left onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
67.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 28.7 mi | 31m |
| I 155 | 25.5 mi | 27m |
| Court Street | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| Clear Lake Avenue | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Pearl Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 28.7 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pekin, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on South 8th Street
79 ft
·
6 sec
·
South 8th Street
2
Turn left onto Broadway Street
360 ft
·
17 sec
·
Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto Court Street
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Court Street
4
Continue on IL 9
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pearl Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 155 South
6
Merge onto I 155
25 mi
·
27 min
·
I 155
7
Merge onto I 55
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward IL 97 West
9
Merge onto IL 97
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Clear Lake Avenue
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on IL 97
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto North 7th Street
406 ft
·
18 sec
·
North 7th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is only 1 hour and 20 minutes, you have significant flexibility in your departure schedule, as there is no need to plan for lengthy rest stops or meal breaks along the way. Because this is a direct, non-stop route with zero designated stops in our data, you should ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Pekin. Keep in mind that the majority of your travel occurs on I-55 and I-155, so stay alert for merging traffic when transitioning between these high-speed segments. If you prefer a quieter drive, consider timing your departure to avoid peak morning or afternoon traffic hours in the Springfield area. Taking advantage of the short duration allows you to maximize your time at your destination rather than behind the wheel.
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 33.6 miles from Pekin, IL, or about 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.7 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 15 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.6 miles or 40m 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 5m
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 Pekin, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pekin, IL
This is one driving day of about 67.3 miles and 1h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Pekin, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 28.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.6 mi from Pekin, IL · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.6 miles from Pekin, 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
$10.52 one way
$21.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.55 | $23.10 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.95 | $25.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.86 | $29.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
| Efficient EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.89 | $2.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.42 | $4.31 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Springfield, IL
Night in Springfield on Wednesday
Local time
10:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 14 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
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
13 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 20m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Pekin, IL to Springfield, IL covers 67.3 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, I 155, Court Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.6 miles from Pekin, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.52 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 64.5 miles (IL 97 / Clear Lake Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Pekin, IL to Springfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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