How far is Decatur, IL from Springfield, IL?

The driving distance from Decatur, IL to Springfield, IL is about 39 miles (62.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36.7 miles (59 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 22m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
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
38.93 mi
00h 41m
Flight
36.65 mi
58.99 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Decatur.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
36.65 mi
Kilometers
58.99 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
38.93 mi
Kilometers
62.65 km
Drive Time
00h 41m

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 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Springfield
Wed, Apr 22, 11:18 PM CDT
Return by in Decatur
Thu, Apr 23, 12:00 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Decatur
2026-04-22T22:37
Arrive Springfield
Wed, Apr 22, 11:18 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:41 AM to 7:41 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:08 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Decatur
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
Lanesville
IL

Township in Sangamon County, Illinois

From Decatur
19.5 mi
00h 20m
To Springfield
19.4 mi
00h 20m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance 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 Decatur and Springfield.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Wood Street

    155 m · 23 sec · East Wood Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Franklin Street

    1982 ft · 49 sec · South Franklin Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Eldorado Street

    35.8 mi · 41 min · West Eldorado Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Clear Lake Avenue

    2.3 mi · 5 min · Clear Lake Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on East Jefferson Street

    2261 ft · 1 min · East Jefferson Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North 7th Street

    124 m · 19 sec · North 7th Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto East Washington Street

    768 ft · 24 sec · East Washington Street

  8. 8

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Washington Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Decatur 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
8 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Eldorado Street
35.8 mi · 92%
Clear Lake Avenue
2.29 mi · 6%
East Jefferson Street
0.43 mi · 1%
South Franklin Street
0.38 mi · 1%
East Washington Street
0.15 mi
East Wood Street
0.1 mi
Longest Stretch

West Eldorado Street

Turn left onto West Eldorado Street

35.8 mi · 00h 41m

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 41m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.3 mi
36.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lanesville
00h 20m from Decatur
Leave By
7:08 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny leaving Decatur 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 Decatur to Springfield?

The road trip is about 39 miles (62.7 km) and usually takes 00h 41m 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?

Lanesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.5 miles from Decatur and 19.4 miles from Springfield.

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

The direct path is about 36.7 miles (59 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.3 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 7:08 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.17 one way or $10.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny around Decatur and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny near Springfield.

Stop Ideas Near Lanesville

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

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

RAIL

Springfield station

26 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
RAIL

Lincoln

33 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Carlinville

79 mi away
128 Alton Rd.
RAIL

Uptown Station

79 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Decatur and Springfield. Straight-line distance: 36.65 mi (58.99 km).

Decatur

#1 Decatur

The most populous city in Macon County, Illinois.

Population70,007
Coordinates39.8403100, -88.9548000
Altitude205
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: East Wood Street (-88.954801, 39.840341)
End: East Washington Street (-89.643712, 39.801639)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 63 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.37 gal
5.2 L · about $5.17
Round trip
$10.33
2.74 gal · 10.4 L
Estimated CO2
12.2 kg one way
Round trip: 24.4 kg / 54 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.17 $10.33
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.83 $11.65
Premium $4.65 $6.38 $12.75
Diesel $5.30 $7.27 $14.53

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 Decatur and Springfield. The current time is 22:37:23.

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.