Trip from Springfield, IL to Petersburg, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 54m

Distance

94.4 mi

152 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

1h 46m ★

6 AM

1h 54m

8 AM

2h 11m

10 AM

2h 0m

12 PM

1h 58m

3 PM

2h 1m

5 PM

2h 10m

8 PM

1h 49m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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capital city of Illinois and county seat of Sangamon County

Springfield, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Petersburg, IL

Sun452

Trip Overview

The drive from Springfield, IL to Petersburg, IL covers 94.4 miles and takes about 1h 54m 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, North Illinois Street, South 11th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.5 miles on I 55 Business. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.76 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

47.2 miles from Springfield, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 94.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 54m highway drive covering 94.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 Business and North Illinois Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.5 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 22 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 78.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 Business and North Illinois Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South 11th Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 4.6 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

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.

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. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

92.6 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in

Take the exit toward O'Fallon

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 14 Toward O'Fallon

92.9 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in

Keep slight left at fork toward O'Fallon, Hartman Lane

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward O'Fallon, Hartman Lane

93 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in

Keep slight left at fork toward O'Fallon

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward O'Fallon

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 55 Business	78.5 mi	1h 25m
North Illinois Street	3.9 mi	5m
South 11th Street	3 mi	6m
Vandalia Street	3 mi	4m
I 64	1.7 mi	2m
South Morrison Avenue	1.3 mi	1m
West Highway 50	0.8 mi	1m
W State Street	0.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 55 Business — 78.5 mi, about 1h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on East Washington Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · East Washington Street

Turn right onto South 11th Street

3.0 mi · 6 min · South 11th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn slight right

411 ft · 20 sec

Turn straight onto East Stevenson Drive

0.4 mi · 48 sec · East Stevenson Drive

Use the straight lane.

Turn slight left onto I 55 Business

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 55 Business

Take the ramp onto I 55 Business

354 ft · 6 sec · I 55 Business

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business

0.2 mi · 23 sec · I 55 Business

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business

78 mi · 1 hr 23 min · I 55 Business

Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec

Exit 15A Toward IL 159 South: Collinsville

Continue on IL 159

3.0 mi · 4 min · Vandalia Street

Continue on IL 159

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Morrison Avenue

Continue on IL 159

3.9 mi · 5 min · North Illinois Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward I 64, US 50 East: Mount Vernon

Merge onto I 64; US 50

1.7 mi · 2 min · I 64; US 50

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Exit 14 Toward O'Fallon Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

216 ft · 5 sec

Toward O'Fallon, Hartman Lane

Keep slight left at fork

267 ft · 8 sec

Toward O'Fallon Use the slight left lane.

Turn left onto West Highway 50

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Highway 50

Turn left onto West State Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · West State Street

Enter roundabout onto W State Street

70 ft · 3 sec · W State Street

Continue on W State Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · W State Street

Arrive at destination

West State Street

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 47.2 miles from Springfield, IL, or about 56m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.5 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 21 miles or 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 47.2 miles or 56m 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 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Petersburg, 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 94.4 miles and 1h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 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 78.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 47.2 mi from Springfield, IL · 56m into the drive

city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gillespie, IL

47 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

Belleville, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bremen, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.2 miles from Springfield, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Petersburg, IL

The final approach into Petersburg, 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.

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...

0 mi from route Free

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.76 one way

$29.52 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$16.20	$32.41
premium	$4.89	$18.17	$36.33
diesel	$5.61	$20.84	$41.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	28.3	$9.91	$4.53
Efficient EV	23.6	$8.26	$3.78
EV Truck/SUV	37.8	$13.22	$6.04

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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

Evening in Springfield on Thursday

Local time

6:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Petersburg, IL

Evening in Petersburg on Thursday

Local time

6:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°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

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 54m 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 Petersburg, IL covers 94.4 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 55 Business, North Illinois Street, 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 47.2 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 $14.76 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.

The route from Springfield, IL to Petersburg, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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