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Trip from Quincy, 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

2h 16m

Distance

110.4 mi

178 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 7m ★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 11m

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

Downtown Quincy, IL, IL

Quincy, IL

Wikimedia Commons

capital city of Illinois and county seat of Sangamon County

Springfield, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 110.4-mile drive from Quincy, IL to Springfield, IL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 16 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-72, the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, and Gardner Expressway, this route is heavily highway-focused, with 93% of the journey on interstates. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. With an estimated fuel cost of $17, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. The journey is designed for efficiency, getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

55.2 miles from Quincy, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 110.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 110.4-mile journey, with 93% of the drive on interstates. The main arteries, including I-72, will keep you moving at a good pace. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 86.5 miles on I-72, offering a consistent driving experience. While predominantly highway, the route's character is about efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. It's a route designed to cover ground smoothly, allowing you to focus on reaching your destination.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 72 is the longest continuous segment at about 86.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and Gardner Expressway. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 101.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 110.4 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 101.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108 miles (Chatham Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 108.1 miles (West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

5
101.9 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in

Take the exit toward Springfield, Loami

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Springfield, Loami
5
108 mi into trip | ~2h 9m in | Chatham Road

Turn left onto Chatham Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
108.1 mi into trip | ~2h 10m in | West Washington Street

Turn right onto West Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
109.5 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in | North Lewis Street

At end of road, turn left onto North Lewis Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
109.6 mi into trip | ~2h 14m in | West Washington Street

Turn right onto West Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Quincy, IL to Springfield, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Loami along the way.

Loami

101.9 mi in | ~1h 58m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 72 86.5 mi 1h 32m
Gardner Expressway 11.3 mi 19m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway 2.8 mi 3m
Wabash Avenue 2.5 mi 4m
West Washington Street 2.3 mi 6m
Veterans Parkway 1.4 mi 2m
West Monroe Street 1.3 mi 2m
North 3rd Street 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 72 — 86.5 mi, about 1h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

53 ft · 1 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto IL 104

381 ft · 35 sec · Broadway Street
3

Continue on IL 104

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Broadway Street
4

Turn left onto North 3rd Street

0.4 mi · 52 sec · North 3rd Street
5

Continue on IL 57

11 mi · 19 min · Gardner Expressway
6

Continue on East 1083rd Lane

0.1 mi · 11 sec · East 1083rd Lane
7

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
8

Merge onto I 172; IL 110

2.8 mi · 3 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9

Merge onto I 72; US 36

86 mi · 1 hr 32 min · I 72; US 36
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 31 sec
Toward Springfield, Loami
11

Turn left onto Old Route 54

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Old Route 54
12

Continue on Wabash Avenue

2.5 mi · 4 min · Wabash Avenue
Use the left lane.
13

Turn left onto IL 4

1.4 mi · 2 min · Veterans Parkway
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
15

Turn straight onto West Monroe Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Monroe Street
Use the straight lane.
16

Turn left onto Chatham Road

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Chatham Road
Use the left lane.
17

Turn right onto West Washington Street

1.4 mi · 3 min · West Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

At end of road, turn left onto North Lewis Street

83 ft · 4 sec · North Lewis Street
Use the left lane.
19

Turn right onto West Washington Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Washington Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20

Arrive at destination

East Washington Street

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short 2-hour and 16-minute duration, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion. You can leave Quincy at your leisure, as there are no designated stops requiring significant time. Plan for one fuel stop if needed, especially before embarking on the 86.5-mile stretch on I-72, to ensure a smooth journey to Springfield. The $17 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices is always a good idea. You'll find plenty of opportunities to pull over for breaks along the interstate system.

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 55.2 miles from Quincy, IL, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.5 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 24 miles or 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 55.2 miles or 1h 8m 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 46m

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 Quincy, 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 Quincy, IL

This is one driving day of about 110.4 miles and 2h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Quincy, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 72 for about 86.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 55.2 mi from Quincy, IL · 1h 8m into the drive

county in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bedford, IL

55 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

Barry, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pittsfield, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 55.2 miles from Quincy, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 72 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.5 miles.

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

$17.26 one way

$34.52 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $18.95 $37.90
premium $4.89 $21.25 $42.49
diesel $5.61 $24.37 $48.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 38.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.1 0 $11.59 $5.30
Efficient EV 27.6 0 $9.66 $4.42
EV Truck/SUV 44.2 0 $15.46 $7.07

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 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

Quincy, IL

Late night in Quincy on Friday

Local time

3:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Springfield, IL

Late night in Springfield on Friday

Local time

3:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

72°F

Bedford, IL

55 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

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

2h 16m 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 Quincy, IL to Springfield, IL covers 110.4 miles and takes about 2h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 72, Gardner Expressway, Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 55.2 miles from Quincy, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.26 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 110.4 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 101.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108 miles (Chatham Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 108.1 miles (West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Quincy, IL to Springfield, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Loami along the way.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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