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Trip from Virginia, IL to Springfield, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

50m

Distance

32.8 mi

53 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 47m ★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m

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

city in Illinois, USA

Virginia, IL

Wikimedia Commons

capital city of Illinois and county seat of Sangamon County

Springfield, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Virginia to Springfield, Illinois, you can expect a quick, 32.8-mile journey that typically takes about 40 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is a straightforward drive through the heart of the Midwest. You will navigate primarily via West Springfield Street, North Main Street, and North 7th Street to reach your destination. With fuel costs estimated at around $5, it is an incredibly budget-friendly commute. Since the entire route is within the same state and region, you won't need to worry about complex travel logistics or overnight stays. It is a practical, no-fuss connection between these two Illinois communities.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 32.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route maintains a 0% highway share. You will find yourself navigating local streets for the duration of the trip, meaning there are no long, monotonous stretches of highway to manage. In fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on West Springfield Street, highlighting the constant, localized nature of the drive. Behind the wheel, you should be prepared for frequent maneuvering through town streets. This experience is best described as a direct, hands-on transit through local corridors rather than a wide-open rural road trip.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IL 125 is the longest continuous segment at about 24 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 125 and IL 97. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Springfield Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 50m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Springfield Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IL 78 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (IL 125): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Springfield Street

Turn right onto West Springfield Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | IL 78 / North Main Street

Turn left onto IL 78 / North Main Street

Navigation decision point

3
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | IL 125

Turn right onto IL 125

Navigation decision point

6
32.5 mi into trip | ~49m in | North 7th Street

Turn right onto North 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
32.6 mi into trip | ~50m in | East Washington Street

Turn left onto East Washington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
IL 125 24 mi 34m
IL 97 8.1 mi 13m
North Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
North 7th Street 0.2 mi <1m
East Washington Street 0.1 mi <1m
West Springfield Street 0.1 mi <1m
South 3rd West Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: IL 125 — 24 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South 3rd West Street

240 ft · 13 sec · South 3rd West Street
2

Turn right onto West Springfield Street

0.1 mi · 34 sec · West Springfield Street
3

Turn left onto IL 78

0.2 mi · 31 sec · North Main Street
4

Turn right onto IL 125

12 mi · 17 min · IL 125
5

Continue on IL 125

11 mi · 16 min · IL 125
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on IL 125

0.9 mi · 1 min · IL 125
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Continue on IL 97

8.1 mi · 13 min · IL 97
Use the straight lane.
8

Turn right onto North 7th Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · North 7th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Turn left onto East Washington Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · East Washington Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
10

Arrive at destination

East Washington Street

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 16.4 mi from Virginia, IL · 24m into the drive

village in Cass County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ashland, IL

16 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.

Popular next leg

Ashland, IL to Springfield, IL

20.9 mi · 33m

Pacing Suggestions

Grandview, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ashland, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.4 miles from Virginia, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Springfield, IL

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Springfield, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.13 one way

$10.26 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $5.63 $11.26
premium $4.89 $6.31 $12.62
diesel $5.61 $7.24 $14.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.8 0 $3.44 $1.57
Efficient EV 8.2 0 $2.87 $1.31
EV Truck/SUV 13.1 0 $4.59 $2.10

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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

Virginia, IL

Afternoon in Virginia on Thursday

Local time

12:53 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Springfield, IL

Afternoon in Springfield on Thursday

Local time

12:53 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

75°F

Ashland, IL

16 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

19 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

50m 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 Virginia, IL to Springfield, IL covers 32.8 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IL 125, IL 97, North 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 16.4 miles from Virginia, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.13 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 50m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Springfield Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IL 78 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (IL 125): Navigation decision point.
The route from Virginia, IL to Springfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore more options from Virginia, IL or browse trips ending in Springfield, IL.

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