Springfield, IL to Bethalto, IL is 78.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 35 minutes via I 55 Business and State Route 140, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Illinois, making it a straightforward trip. Given its relatively short duration and focus on highways, it's a practical option for a single-day journey. You'll find it’s a quick connection between these two Illinois locations, ideal if you're looking for an efficient drive without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from Springfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 78.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 93% of the journey on faster roads. Expect a consistent driving experience for much of the trip, including a significant uninterrupted stretch of 63.3 miles on I 55 Business. The character shifts as you transition to State Route 140 and South 11th Street, offering a slight change in scenery and pace as you approach your destination. It's designed for efficient travel rather than winding country roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 Business is the longest continuous segment at about 63.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 Business and State Route 140. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South 11th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 78.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (South 11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (East Stevenson Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|South 11th Street
Turn right onto South 11th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
3.2 mi into trip|~7m in|East Stevenson Drive
Turn straight onto East Stevenson Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
4.4 mi into trip|~9m in|I 55 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
4.6 mi into trip|~10m in|I 55 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
66.8 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
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 Springfield, IL to Bethalto, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Greenville along the way.
Greenville
66.8 mi in|~1h 17m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55 Business
63.3 mi
1h 8m
State Route 140
9.6 mi
13m
South 11th Street
3 mi
6m
East Bethalto Drive
0.7 mi
1m
East State Street
0.7 mi
1m
South Prairie Street
0.6 mi
1m
East Stevenson Drive
0.4 mi
<1m
East Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55 Business
— 63.3 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, IL and Bethalto, IL.
1
Start on East Washington Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·East Washington Street
2
Turn right onto South 11th Street
3.0 mi·6 min·South 11th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn slight right
411 ft·20 sec
4
Turn straight onto East Stevenson Drive
0.4 mi·48 sec·East Stevenson Drive
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn slight left onto I 55 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·I 55 Business
6
Take the ramp onto I 55 Business
354 ft·6 sec·I 55 Business
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business
0.2 mi·23 sec·I 55 Business
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 55 Business
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
10
Turn right onto IL 140
0.7 mi·1 min·East State Street
11
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi·13 min·State Route 140
12
Continue on IL 140
0.7 mi·1 min·East Bethalto Drive
13
Turn right onto South Prairie Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Prairie Street
14
Turn left onto West Sherman Street
8 ft·0 sec·West Sherman Street
15
Arrive at destination
West Sherman Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, this route offers a lot of flexibility, so there's no need to rush your departure. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, so consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early traffic. The longest continuous stretch is over an hour, so plan for a fuel or rest stop before or after this segment if needed. Since it's a short, highway-centric drive, keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Bethalto, as services might be less frequent on the latter part of State Route 140.
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 39.4 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.3 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 47m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethalto, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Springfield, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Springfield, IL
This is one driving day of about 78.7 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Springfield, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 Business for about 63.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.4 mi from Springfield, IL
· 47m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.30 one way
$24.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.51
$27.02
premium
$4.89
$15.15
$30.29
diesel
$5.61
$17.38
$34.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.6
0
$8.26
$3.78
Efficient EV
19.7
0
$6.89
$3.15
EV Truck/SUV
31.5
0
$11.02
$5.04
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Springfield, IL
Afternoon
in Springfield on Friday
Local time
2:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bethalto, IL
Afternoon
in Bethalto on Friday
Local time
2:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Litchfield, IL
39 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
21 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 35m 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 Springfield, IL to Bethalto, IL covers 78.7 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55 Business, State Route 140, South 11th 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 39.4 miles from Springfield, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.30 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 78.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (South 11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (East Stevenson Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Springfield, IL to Bethalto, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Greenville along the way.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
