Origin
Springfield, IL
Late night in Springfield on Saturday
Local time
12:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Springfield, IL to Gillespie, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
52.9 mi
85 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Springfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Gillespie, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Springfield, IL to Gillespie, IL covers 52.9 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55 Business, County Road 1200 North, South 11th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.4 miles on I 55 Business. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 52.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 5m highway drive covering 52.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 Business and County Road 1200 North. The longest continuous stretch is about 40.4 miles on I 55 Business.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 40.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 Business and County Road 1200 North. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South 11th Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 5m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South 11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.6 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese 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.
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
44 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward IL 16: Gillespie, Litchfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 16: Gillespie, Litchfield
4
52.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
IL 4 / Macoupin Street
Turn left onto IL 4 / Macoupin Street
Navigation decision point
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 Gillespie, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Litchfield along the way.
Litchfield
44 mi in
|
~52m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 Business | 40.4 mi | 44m |
| County Road 1200 North | 8.3 mi | 12m |
| South 11th Street | 3 mi | 6m |
| East Stevenson Drive | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Macoupin Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 55 Business
— 40.4 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, IL and Gillespie, 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
39 mi
·
42 min
·
I 55 Business
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
Toward IL 16: Gillespie, Litchfield
10
Turn straight onto IL 16
8.3 mi
·
12 min
·
County Road 1200 North
11
Turn left onto IL 4
18 ft
·
0 sec
·
Macoupin Street
12
Arrive at destination
IL 4
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.4 mi from Springfield, IL · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.4 miles from Springfield, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gillespie, IL
The final approach into Gillespie, 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
$8.27 one way
$16.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.08 | $18.16 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.68 | $23.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.55 | $2.54 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.41 | $3.39 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Gillespie, IL
Late night in Gillespie on Saturday
Local time
12:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Chatham, IL
26 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
1 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 5m 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 Gillespie, IL covers 52.9 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55 Business, County Road 1200 North, 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 26.4 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 $8.27 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 is a straightforward 1h 5m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South 11th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.6 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Springfield, IL to Gillespie, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Litchfield along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument.
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.
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