Origin
South Jacksonville, IL
Late night in South Jacksonville on Friday
Local time
12:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Jacksonville, IL to Springfield, IL
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
49m
Distance
35.4 mi
57 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Jacksonville, IL
Mike Jones
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from South Jacksonville, IL to Springfield, IL covers 35.4 miles and takes about 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 72, East Morton Avenue, Wabash Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.1 miles on I 72. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.53 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 35.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 49m highway drive covering 35.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 72 and East Morton Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 22.1 miles on I 72.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 22.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and East Morton Avenue. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 26.9 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 35.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 26.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.9 miles (Chatham Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 33 miles (West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
26.9 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
32.9 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
Chatham Road
Turn left onto Chatham Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
33 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
West Washington Street
Turn right onto West Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
34.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
North Lewis Street
At end of road, turn left onto North Lewis Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
34.5 mi into trip
|
~46m 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 South Jacksonville, IL to Springfield, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Loami along the way.
Loami
26.9 mi in
|
~31m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 72 | 22.1 mi | 23m |
| East Morton Avenue | 2.5 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 |
| South Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Old Route 36 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 72
— 22.1 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Jacksonville, IL and Springfield, IL.
1
Start on East Vandalia Road
298 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Vandalia Road
2
Turn right onto IL 267
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
3
Turn right onto I 72 Bus; IL 104
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Morton Avenue
4
Continue on I 72 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Route 36
5
Turn left onto I 72 Business
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 72 Business
6
Merge onto I 72; US 36
22 mi
·
23 min
·
I 72; US 36
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Toward Springfield, Loami
8
Turn left onto Old Route 54
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Old Route 54
9
Continue on Wabash Avenue
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Wabash Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto IL 4
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Veterans Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
12
Turn straight onto West Monroe Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Monroe Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto Chatham Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Chatham Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto West Washington Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
At end of road, turn left onto North Lewis Street
83 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Lewis Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto West Washington Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Washington Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.7 mi from South Jacksonville, IL · 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.7 miles from South Jacksonville, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Springfield, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Springfield, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.53 one way
$11.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.08 | $12.15 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.81 | $13.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.82 | $15.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.72 | $1.70 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.10 | $1.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Late night in Springfield on Friday
Local time
12:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Jerome, IL
18 mi in
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
26 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
49m 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 South Jacksonville, IL to Springfield, IL covers 35.4 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 72, East Morton Avenue, Wabash Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.7 miles from South Jacksonville, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.53 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 35.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 26.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.9 miles (Chatham Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 33 miles (West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from South Jacksonville, IL to Springfield, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Loami along the way.
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