How far is Louisville, KY from Springfield, IL?

The driving distance from Louisville, KY to Springfield, IL is about 321.5 miles (517.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 234.3 miles (377 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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
321.5 mi
05h 57m
Flight
234.28 mi
377.03 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Louisville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
234.28 mi
Kilometers
377.03 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
321.5 mi
Kilometers
517.4 km
Drive Time
05h 57m

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 05h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Springfield
Sun, Apr 12, 12:39 PM CDT
Return by in Louisville
Sun, Apr 12, 7:36 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Louisville
2026-04-12T07:42
Arrive Springfield
Sun, Apr 12, 1:39 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:57 AM to 12:57 PM CDT

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

Leave by
5:06 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Louisville
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Crawfordsville
IN

City in Montgomery County, Indiana

From Louisville
160.6 mi
02h 58m
To Springfield
160.9 mi
02h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 12 mph S
Destination
80°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 20 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Jefferson Street

    78 m · 16 sec · West Jefferson Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South 6th Street

    87 m · 15 sec · South 6th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Liberty Street

    1889 ft · 53 sec · West Liberty Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto South 2nd Street

    1322 ft · 51 sec · South 2nd Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Clark Memorial Bridge

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Clark Memorial Bridge

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight left

    889 ft · 22 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    104.8 mi · 1 hr 54 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 465 West, I 74West, I 465 East, I 74 East: Peoria, Cincinnati

    753 ft · 16 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 465 West, I 74 West: Peoria

    2107 ft · 52 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight right

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    10.8 mi · 13 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    114.4 mi · 2 hr 4 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 57 North: Chicago, Memphis

    1001 ft · 17 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    1.1 km · 59 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 72 West: Decatur

    2596 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    78.3 mi · 1 hr 24 min

  18. 18

    Continue on Clear Lake Avenue

    2.3 mi · 5 min · Clear Lake Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on East Jefferson Street

    2261 ft · 1 min · East Jefferson Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto North 7th Street

    124 m · 19 sec · North 7th Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto East Washington Street

    768 ft · 24 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 Louisville and Springfield.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
22 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 465 West
130 mi · 41%
Clark Memorial Bridge
106 mi · 33%
I 72 West
78.8 mi · 25%
Clear Lake Avenue
2.29 mi · 1%
I 57 South
2.16 mi · 1%
East Jefferson Street
0.43 mi
Longest Stretch

I 465 West

Keep slight right

114 mi · 02h 04m

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
05h 57m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+87.2 mi
234.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Crawfordsville
02h 58m from Louisville
Leave By
5:06 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Louisville and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Springfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 321.5 miles (517.4 km) and usually takes 05h 57m 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?

Crawfordsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 160.6 miles from Louisville and 160.9 miles from Springfield.

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

The direct path is about 234.3 miles (377 km), while the road route adds roughly 87.2 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:06 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.76 one way or $85.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Louisville and Springfield, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Crawfordsville

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

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

RAIL

Crawfordsville

2 mi away
Spring and Green Streets
BUS

Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana

5 mi away
1000 Smith Ave
RAIL

Lafayette station

42 mi away
200 North 2nd St.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

65 mi away
379 Lynch Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Louisville and Springfield. Straight-line distance: 234.28 mi (377.03 km).

Louisville

#1 Louisville

The nineteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Louisville metropolitan area.

Population760,026
Coordinates38.2542400, -85.7594100
Altitude142
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: Louisville (-85.75941, 38.25424)
End: Springfield (-89.64371, 39.80172)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 517 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.34 gal
42.94 L · about $42.76
Round trip
$85.53
22.68 gal · 85.88 L
Estimated CO2
100.8 kg one way
Round trip: 201.6 kg / 444 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $42.76 $85.53
Mid-grade $4.25 $48.23 $96.46
Premium $4.65 $52.78 $105.55
Diesel $5.30 $60.15 $120.29

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 Kentucky · Apr 12, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Louisville, KY and Springfield, IL. The current time in Louisville is 07:42:15, although it is 06:42:15 in Springfield.

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.