How far is Buena Vista, IL from Springfield, IL?

The driving distance from Buena Vista, IL to Springfield, IL is about 209.2 miles (336.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 153.7 miles (247.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
209.13 mi
03h 22m
Flight
153.72 mi
247.39 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Buena Vista.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
153.72 mi
Kilometers
247.39 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
209.13 mi
Kilometers
336.57 km
Drive Time
03h 22m

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 03h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Springfield
Sun, Apr 19, 1:14 AM CDT
Return by in Buena Vista
Sun, Apr 19, 4:36 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Buena Vista
2026-04-18T21:52
Arrive Springfield
Sun, Apr 19, 1:14 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:22 AM to 11:22 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:16 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Buena Vista
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Sandoval
IL

Village in Marion County, Illinois, United States

From Buena Vista
96.4 mi
01h 41m
To Springfield
112.8 mi
01h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 15 mph WSW
Destination
56°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Buena Vista and Springfield.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    50 m · 15 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Poplar Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Poplar Street

  3. 3

    Turn right

    22 mi · 27 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

    41.3 mi · 45 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    20.5 mi · 22 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval

    2199 ft · 54 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto West Main Street

    2.4 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  9. 9

    Continue on East Poplar Street

    2.7 mi · 3 min · East Poplar Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Poplar

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Poplar

  11. 11

    Turn right onto 150E

    10.4 mi · 12 min · 150E

  12. 12

    Continue on 300E

    13.5 mi · 15 min · 300E

  13. 13

    Turn left

    2405 ft · 35 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Kennedy Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · North Kennedy Boulevard

  15. 15

    Continue on County Road 875 East

    11.1 mi · 13 min · County Road 875 East

  16. 16

    Continue on South Superior Street

    15.1 mi · 17 min · South Superior Street

  17. 17

    Continue on County Road 2400 East

    2 mi · 3 min · County Road 2400 East

  18. 18

    Continue on Fair Avenue

    3070 ft · 2 min · Fair Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on South Poplar Street

    1675 ft · 29 sec · South Poplar Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto West 2nd Street

    1948 ft · 1 min · West 2nd Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto South State Street

    1084 ft · 53 sec · South State Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto West Washington Street

    1470 ft · 46 sec · West Washington Street

  23. 23

    Continue on N 2000 East Road

    5.4 mi · 8 min · N 2000 East Road

  24. 24

    Continue on State Route 29

    5.1 mi · 8 min · State Route 29

  25. 25

    Continue on East Park Street

    5.3 mi · 8 min · East Park Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto North Webster Street

    2286 ft · 33 sec · North Webster Street

  27. 27

    Continue on West Springfield Road

    15.7 mi · 19 min · West Springfield Road

  28. 28

    Continue straight

    1.3 mi · 1 min

  29. 29

    Continue straight

    5.4 mi · 8 min

  30. 30

    Continue straight

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  31. 31

    Turn straight

    1 mi · 2 min

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Clear Lake Avenue

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Clear Lake Avenue

  33. 33

    Continue on East Jefferson Street

    2261 ft · 1 min · East Jefferson Street

  34. 34

    Turn left onto North 7th Street

    124 m · 19 sec · North 7th Street

  35. 35

    Turn left onto East Washington Street

    768 ft · 24 sec · East Washington Street

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Washington Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
36 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ken Gray Expressway
61.7 mi · 30%
West Springfield Road
23.4 mi · 11%
South Superior Street
15.1 mi · 7%
300E
13.5 mi · 6%
County Road 875 East
11.1 mi · 5%
150E
10.4 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Ken Gray Expressway

Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

41.3 mi · 00h 45m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.5 mi
153.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sandoval
01h 41m from Buena Vista
Leave By
10:16 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Buena Vista and Chance Rain Showers near Springfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Buena Vista to Springfield?

The road trip is about 209.2 miles (336.6 km) and usually takes 03h 22m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Sandoval is a useful midpoint, sitting about 96.4 miles from Buena Vista and 112.8 miles from Springfield.

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

The direct path is about 153.7 miles (247.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.5 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:16 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.83 one way or $55.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Buena Vista and Chance Rain Showers near Springfield.

Stop Ideas Near Sandoval

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

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

RAIL

Centralia station

10 mi away
108 East Broadway
BUS

Mt. Vernon, IL

36 mi away
102 Potomac Boulevard
RAIL

Du Quoin

68 mi away
20 North Chestnut St.
RAIL

Effingham

75 mi away
401 West National Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Buena Vista and Springfield. Straight-line distance: 153.72 mi (247.39 km).

Buena Vista

#1 Buena Vista

Township in Schuyler County, Illinois

Population1,684
Coordinates37.7383800, -88.5761600
Altitude122
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: Poplar Street (-88.576165, 37.738687)
End: East Washington Street (-89.643712, 39.801639)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 337 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.38 gal
27.94 L · about $27.83
Round trip
$55.66
14.76 gal · 55.88 L
Estimated CO2
65.6 kg one way
Round trip: 131.2 kg / 289 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.83 $55.66
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.39 $62.77
Premium $4.65 $34.35 $68.69
Diesel $5.30 $39.14 $78.29

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 Buena Vista and Springfield. The current time is 21:52:51.

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.