The drive from Springfield, IL to Independence, IL covers 77.7 miles and takes about 1h 40m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 72, US 54, County Highway 7 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.7 miles on I 72.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.15 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.8 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 40m. Total distance: 77.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 40m highway drive covering 77.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 72 and US 54. The longest continuous stretch is about 61.7 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 61.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 72 and US 54. You will hit about 11 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 77.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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.
5
4.4 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 72 West: Jacksonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 72 West: Jacksonville
6
66.5 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward US 54, IL 107: Griggsville, Pittsfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 35
Toward US 54, IL 107: Griggsville, Pittsfield
5
72.1 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|South Illinois Street
Turn right onto South Illinois Street
Navigation decision point
5
72.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|East Fayette Street
Turn left onto East Fayette 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 Independence, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Pittsfield along the way.
Pittsfield
66.5 mi in|~1h 16m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 72
61.7 mi
1h 6m
US 54
5.3 mi
8m
County Highway 7
5 mi
12m
South 11th Street
3 mi
6m
I 55 Business
0.8 mi
1m
Piper Lane
0.4 mi
1m
East Stevenson Drive
0.4 mi
<1m
East Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 72
— 61.7 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, IL and Independence, 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 right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 72 West: Jacksonville
8
Merge onto I 72; US 36
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 72; US 36
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 35Toward US 54, IL 107: Griggsville, Pittsfield
10
Turn slight left onto US 54
5.3 mi·8 min·US 54
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto IL 106
404 ft·8 sec·East Washington Street
12
Turn right onto South Illinois Street
427 ft·24 sec·South Illinois Street
13
Turn left onto East Fayette Street
357 ft·17 sec·East Fayette Street
14
Turn right onto Piper Lane
0.4 mi·1 min·Piper Lane
15
Continue on County Highway 7
5.0 mi·12 min·County Highway 7
16
Turn right onto Road 900
259 ft·11 sec·Road 900
17
Arrive at destination
Road 900
Trip Plan
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 38.8 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.7 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 38.8 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Independence, 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 77.7 miles and 1h 40m.
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 72 for about 61.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.8 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
$12.15 one way
$24.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.34
$26.67
premium
$4.89
$14.95
$29.91
diesel
$5.61
$17.16
$34.31
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: 27.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.16
$3.73
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.80
$3.11
EV Truck/SUV
31.1
0
$10.88
$4.97
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 17, 2026
Origin
Springfield, IL
Late night
in Springfield on Saturday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Independence, IL
Late night
in Independence on Saturday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
7 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 40m 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 Independence, IL covers 77.7 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 72, US 54, County Highway 7. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.8 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 $12.15 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 77.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Springfield, IL to Independence, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Pittsfield 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.
