Origin
Petersburg, IL
Afternoon in Petersburg on Friday
Local time
2:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Petersburg, IL to Springfield, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
22.7 mi
37 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Petersburg, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 22.7-mile drive from Petersburg to Springfield, Illinois, can be completed in just about 36 minutes, making it an ideal short trip. With a highway share of 87%, the route is primarily focused on efficient travel, so you won't need to worry about breaking it up over multiple days. Your estimated fuel cost for this journey is a budget-friendly $4. This Midwest drive keeps you within the state of Illinois, offering a straightforward connection between two points. Consider this a simple hop rather than a grand expedition.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 22.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 22.7-mile journey, with 87% of it on higher-speed roads. The main arteries guiding you are IL 97 and Old Salem Road, eventually leading to South 6th Street in Springfield. You'll encounter one uninterrupted stretch of 19.7 miles on IL 97, which means you can settle in for a solid period of highway driving. The character is largely about covering ground efficiently, with the landscape likely unfolding at a steady pace as you approach the capital.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IL 97 is the longest continuous segment at about 19.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 97 and Old Salem Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 14.3 miles in near IL 97.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Petersburg, IL to Springfield, IL is easy. At 36m with 87% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.3 miles (IL 97): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (North 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.6 miles (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
14.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
IL 97
At end of road, turn left onto IL 97
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
22.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
North 7th Street
Turn right onto North 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
22.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 97 | 19.7 mi | 30m |
| Old Salem Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| South 6th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North 7th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
IL 97
— 19.7 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Petersburg, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on IL 97; IL 123
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
South 6th Street
2
Continue on IL 97; IL 123
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
South 6th Street
3
Continue on IL 97; IL 123
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Salem Road
4
Continue on IL 97; IL 123
12 mi
·
17 min
·
IL 97; IL 123
5
At end of road, turn left onto IL 97
8.1 mi
·
13 min
·
IL 97
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto North 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
North 7th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto East Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.55 one way
$7.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.90 | $7.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.37 | $8.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.01 | $10.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.45 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Afternoon in Springfield on Friday
Local time
2:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
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
3 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
36m 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 Petersburg, IL to Springfield, IL covers 22.7 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IL 97, Old Salem Road, South 6th 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 11.4 miles from Petersburg, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.55 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 Petersburg, IL to Springfield, IL is easy. At 36m with 87% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.3 miles (IL 97): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (North 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.6 miles (East Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Petersburg, IL to Springfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Springfield, IL
More trips to Springfield, IL
Explore more options from Petersburg, IL or browse trips ending in Springfield, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.