How far is Athens, IL from Springfield, IL?

Fastest route

The route from Athens, Illinois 62613, USA to Springfield, Illinois, USA is approximately 23 minutes long and spans a distance of 15.7 miles. It primarily follows IL-29 S and S Walnut St.

Directions

  1. Head south on N Main St toward E Hargrave St. 
  2. Turn left at the 1st cross street onto E Hargrave St. 
  3. Continue onto Springfield Rd. 
  4. Turn right onto IL-123 E/IL-29 S and continue to follow IL-29 S.
  5. Continue on J David Jones Pkwy. 
  6. Take N Walnut St to E Myrtle St in Springfield.
  7. Turn left onto W Lawrence Ave and pass by Subway (on the right in 0.4 mi).

Tips & Suggestions

  • Plan your journey in advance and familiarize yourself with the route.
  • Follow the road signs and pay attention to any detours or construction.
  • Use a navigation app or GPS device to track your progress along the way.
  • Stay alert and adhere to traffic rules and regulations.
  • If needed, make use of rest stops or gas stations along the route.
  • Have the necessary toll or parking fees ready, if applicable.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
14.61 mi
00h 20m
Flight
11.79 mi
18.98 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Athens.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
11.79 mi
Kilometers
18.98 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
14.61 mi
Kilometers
23.52 km
Drive Time
00h 20m

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 00h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Springfield
Wed, Apr 22, 11:44 PM CDT
Return by in Athens
Thu, Apr 23, 12:04 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Athens
2026-04-22T23:24
Arrive Springfield
Wed, Apr 22, 11:44 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:20 AM to 7:20 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:50 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Athens
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Cantrall
IL

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

From Athens
7.3 mi
00h 10m
To Springfield
7.3 mi
00h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW
Destination
77°F
Wednesday

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Street

    33 m · 9 sec · North Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Hargrave Street

    2666 ft · 2 min · East Hargrave Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Springfield Road

    1789 ft · 60 sec · Springfield Road

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right

    6.1 mi · 9 min

  5. 5

    Continue on North Walnut Street

    3 mi · 4 min · North Walnut Street

  6. 6

    Continue on J. David Jones Parkway

    2.6 mi · 5 min · J. David Jones Parkway

  7. 7

    Continue on North Walnut Street

    2676 ft · 1 min · North Walnut Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West Miller Street

    1735 ft · 51 sec · West Miller Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Rutledge Street

    1648 ft · 53 sec · Rutledge Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto West Madison Street

    3145 ft · 2 min · West Madison Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto North 7th Street

    821 ft · 33 sec · North 7th Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto East Washington Street

    768 ft · 24 sec · East Washington Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Washington Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
13 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
89 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Walnut Street
3.53 mi · 24%
J. David Jones Parkway
2.63 mi · 18%
West Madison Street
0.6 mi · 4%
East Hargrave Street
0.51 mi · 3%
Springfield Road
0.34 mi · 2%
West Miller Street
0.33 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

At the end of the road, turn right

6.1 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 20m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.8 mi
11.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cantrall
00h 10m from Athens
Leave By
7:50 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny leaving Athens and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny near Springfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 14.6 miles (23.5 km) and usually takes 00h 20m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Cantrall is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.3 miles from Athens and 7.3 miles from Springfield.

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

The direct path is about 11.8 miles (19 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:50 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.96 one way or $3.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny around Athens and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny near Springfield.

Stop Ideas Near Cantrall

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cantrall, 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 Cantrall.

RAIL

Springfield station

15 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
RAIL

Lincoln

35 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Carlinville

75 mi away
128 Alton Rd.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

81 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Athens and Springfield. Straight-line distance: 11.79 mi (18.98 km).

Athens

#1 Athens

City in Menard County, Illinois, United States

Population1,893
Coordinates39.9608800, -89.7239900
Altitude183
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: North Main Street (-89.723948, 39.960881)
End: East Washington Street (-89.643712, 39.801639)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 24 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.52 gal
1.95 L · about $1.96
Round trip
$3.92
1.04 gal · 3.9 L
Estimated CO2
4.6 kg one way
Round trip: 9.2 kg / 20 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $1.96 $3.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $2.21 $4.42
Premium $4.65 $2.42 $4.84
Diesel $5.30 $2.76 $5.52

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Athens and Springfield. The current time is 23:24:00.

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.