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Trip from Staunton, IL to Springfield, IL

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 11m

Distance

58.6 mi

94 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 5m ★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m

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

Downtown Staunton, IL, IL

Staunton, IL

Francis Seura

capital city of Illinois and county seat of Sangamon County

Springfield, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Planning a quick trip from Staunton, Illinois, to Springfield, Illinois? This straightforward 58.6-mile drive should take you about 1 hour and 11 minutes to complete. With 94% of the journey on highways, it’s a quick hop through the Midwest. The estimated fuel cost for this short route is around $9, making it an economical option for a day trip. You won't need to worry about overnight stays; this is a drive you can easily accomplish in a single day, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. It's a practical choice for getting between these two Illinois communities without much fuss.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 58.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the mileage on interstates. Expect to spend most of your time on I 55, which provides the longest uninterrupted stretch of 50.7 miles. While the highway offers efficiency, be aware that the character of the drive remains consistent for the majority of the journey. You'll primarily be navigating major roadways like I 55 and I 55 Business, with brief transitions onto local roads like West Main Street as you approach your destination. It's a functional drive designed for getting from point A to point B.

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 is the longest continuous segment at about 50.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 55 Business. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Main Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 58.6 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: near the start (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 54.3 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.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Main Street

Turn left onto West Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
2.6 mi into trip | ~4m in

Turn left toward I 55 North: Springfield

Navigation decision point

Toward I 55 North: Springfield
5
54.3 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | I 55 Business

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business toward I 55 Business North: Springfield

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
7
54.5 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | I 55 Business

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business toward I 55 Business North: Springfield

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight / right lanes. Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
7
58.4 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in | East Washington Street

Turn right onto East Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 50.7 mi 54m
I 55 Business 4.6 mi 10m
West Main Street 1.5 mi 2m
Staunton Road 1 mi 1m
East Washington Street 0.2 mi <1m
East Old State Capitol Plaza <0.1 mi <1m
North Hibbard Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 50.7 mi, about 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on IL 4

75 ft · 6 sec · North Hibbard Street
2

Turn left onto West Main Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
3

Continue on Staunton Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Staunton Road
4

Take the ramp

127 ft · 6 sec
Toward I 55 North: Springfield
5

Turn left

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward I 55 North: Springfield
6

Merge onto I 55

51 mi · 54 min · I 55
7

Take the exit onto I 55 Business

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 55 Business
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business

0.2 mi · 16 sec · I 55 Business
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 Business

3.8 mi · 8 min · I 55 Business
Toward I 55 Business North: Springfield Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10

Continue on East Old State Capitol Plaza

409 ft · 15 sec · East Old State Capitol Plaza
11

Turn right onto East Washington Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · East Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Arrive at destination

East Washington Street

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29.3 mi from Staunton, IL · 33m into the drive

Downtown Chatham, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chatham, IL

29 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

Mount Olive, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Girard, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.3 miles from Staunton, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Springfield, IL

The final approach into Springfield, 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

$9.16 one way

$18.32 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.06 $20.12
premium $4.89 $11.28 $22.55
diesel $5.61 $12.94 $25.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.6 0 $6.15 $2.81
Efficient EV 14.7 0 $5.13 $2.34
EV Truck/SUV 23.4 0 $8.20 $3.75

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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 15, 2026

Origin

Staunton, IL

Night in Staunton on Thursday

Local time

10:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Springfield, IL

Night in Springfield on Thursday

Local time

10:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

54°F

Chatham, IL

29 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

4 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

1h 11m 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 Staunton, IL to Springfield, IL covers 58.6 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, I 55 Business, West Main 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 29.3 miles from Staunton, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.16 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 58.6 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: near the start (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 54.3 miles (I 55 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Staunton, IL to Springfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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