How far is Alton, IL from Springfield, IL?

The driving distance from Alton, IL to Springfield, IL is about 91.5 miles (147.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 69.3 miles (111.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
91.44 mi
01h 38m
Flight
69.26 mi
111.47 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Alton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
69.26 mi
Kilometers
111.47 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
91.44 mi
Kilometers
147.16 km
Drive Time
01h 38m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Springfield
Sun, Apr 19, 4:28 AM CDT
Return by in Alton
Sun, Apr 19, 6:07 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Alton
2026-04-19T02:49
Arrive Springfield
Sun, Apr 19, 4:28 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:39 AM to 11:39 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:12 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Alton
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Litchfield
IL

City in Illinois, United States

From Alton
43.6 mi
00h 49m
To Springfield
47.8 mi
00h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph W
Destination
60°F
Sunday

Patchy Frost then Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 14 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Alton and Springfield.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alton and Springfield.

  1. 1

    Start on Alby Street

    58 m · 10 sec · Alby Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Broadway

    649 ft · 22 sec · East Broadway

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Piasa Street

    2192 ft · 37 sec · Piasa Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Martin Luther King Drive

    1.5 km · 1 min · Martin Luther King Drive

  5. 5

    Turn right onto College Avenue

    1274 ft · 26 sec · College Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right

    20 m · 1 sec

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward College Avenue

    116 m · 10 sec · College Avenue

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto College Avenue

    3.6 mi · 6 min · College Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on West Macarthur Drive

    1.3 mi · 2 min · West Macarthur Drive

  10. 10

    Continue on West MacArthur Drive

    1.4 mi · 3 min · West MacArthur Drive

  11. 11

    Continue on West Bethalto Drive

    1.8 mi · 4 min · West Bethalto Drive

  12. 12

    Continue on State Route 140

    9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140

  13. 13

    Continue on West State Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · West State Street

  14. 14

    Continue on State Route 140

    135 m · 14 sec · State Route 140

  15. 15

    Take the ramp left

    1515 ft · 38 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    61.6 mi · 1 hr 6 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight left toward I 55 Business North: Springfield

    1.1 km · 1 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 Business North: Springfield

    891 ft · 17 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 Business North: Springfield

    3.8 mi · 9 min

  20. 20

    Continue on East Old State Capitol Plaza

    125 m · 16 sec · East Old State Capitol Plaza

  21. 21

    Turn right onto East Washington Street

    1169 ft · 37 sec · East Washington Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Washington Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Alton and Springfield.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Route 140
71.6 mi · 78%
I 55 Business North
4.64 mi · 5%
College Avenue
3.89 mi · 4%
West Macarthur Drive
2.69 mi · 3%
West Bethalto Drive
1.75 mi · 2%
Martin Luther King Drive
0.9 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

State Route 140

Merge slight left

61.6 mi · 01h 06m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 38m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.2 mi
69.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Litchfield
00h 49m from Alton
Leave By
3:12 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Alton and Patchy Frost then Sunny near Springfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Alton to Springfield?

The road trip is about 91.5 miles (147.2 km) and usually takes 01h 38m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Litchfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 43.6 miles from Alton and 47.8 miles from Springfield.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 69.3 miles (111.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:12 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.18 one way or $24.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 28.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Alton and Patchy Frost then Sunny near Springfield.

Stop Ideas Near Litchfield

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Litchfield, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Litchfield.

RAIL

Carlinville

23 mi away
128 Alton Rd.
RAIL

Alton

51 mi away
3400 College Ave.
RAIL

Springfield station

70 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
RAIL

Gateway Transportation Center

78 mi away
551 South 16th St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Alton and Springfield. Straight-line distance: 69.26 mi (111.47 km).

Alton

#1 Alton

City in Madison County, Illinois, United States

Population26,049
Coordinates38.8906000, -90.1842800
Altitude150
CountryUnited States
Springfield

#2 Springfield

The capital of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County.

Population113,671
Coordinates39.8017200, -89.6437100
Altitude182
CountryUnited States
Start: Alby Street (-90.184278, 38.8906)
End: East Washington Street (-89.643712, 39.801639)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 147 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.23 gal
12.21 L · about $12.18
Round trip
$24.36
6.46 gal · 24.42 L
Estimated CO2
28.7 kg one way
Round trip: 57.4 kg / 127 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $12.18 $24.36
Mid-grade $4.25 $13.74 $27.47
Premium $4.65 $15.03 $30.06
Diesel $5.30 $17.13 $34.26

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Alton and Springfield. The current time is 02:49:36.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.