How far is Springfield, IL from Athens, IL?

The driving distance from Springfield, IL to Athens, IL is about 14.7 miles (23.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 11.8 miles (19 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 52m 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
14.65 mi
00h 26m
Flight
11.79 mi
18.98 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Springfield.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
14.65 mi
Kilometers
23.58 km
Drive Time
00h 26m

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 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Athens
Wed, Apr 15, 1:05 AM CDT
Return by in Springfield
Wed, Apr 15, 1:32 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Springfield
2026-04-15T00:39
Arrive Athens
Wed, Apr 15, 1:05 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:26 AM to 7:26 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Springfield
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 Springfield
7.3 mi
00h 13m
To Athens
7.3 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SW
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 16 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Washington Street

    11 m · 7 sec · East Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North 9th Street

    124 m · 19 sec · North 9th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Jefferson Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · East Jefferson Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North Walnut Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · North Walnut Street

  5. 5

    Continue on J. David Jones Parkway

    2.6 mi · 5 min · J. David Jones Parkway

  6. 6

    Continue on North Walnut Street Road

    3 mi · 4 min · North Walnut Street Road

  7. 7

    Continue on North State Rt 29

    2.5 mi · 3 min · North State Rt 29

  8. 8

    Continue on 1st Street

    3.6 mi · 6 min · 1st Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Springfield Road

    1810 ft · 1 min · Springfield Road

  10. 10

    Continue on East Hargrave Street

    2666 ft · 2 min · East Hargrave Street

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Main Street

    33 m · 4 sec · North Main Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
81.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
1st Street
3.61 mi · 25%
North Walnut Street Road
3 mi · 20%
J. David Jones Parkway
2.64 mi · 18%
North State Rt 29
2.51 mi · 17%
East Jefferson Street
1.06 mi · 7%
North Walnut Street
0.88 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

1st Street

Continue on 1st Street

3.61 mi · 00h 06m

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 26m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.9 mi
11.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cantrall
00h 13m from Springfield
Leave By
7:38 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Springfield and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Athens.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 14.7 miles (23.6 km) and usually takes 00h 26m 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 Springfield and 7.3 miles from Athens.

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 2.9 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 7:38 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 Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Springfield and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Athens.

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 Springfield and Athens. Straight-line distance: 11.79 mi (18.98 km).

Springfield

#1 Springfield

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

Population113,671
Coordinates39.8017200, -89.6437100
Altitude182
CountryUnited States
Athens

#2 Athens

City in Menard County, Illinois, United States

Population1,893
Coordinates39.9608800, -89.7239900
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Start: Springfield (-89.64371, 39.80172)
End: Athens (-89.72399, 39.96088)

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
1.96 L · about $1.96
Round trip
$3.92
1.04 gal · 3.92 L
Estimated CO2
4.6 kg one way
Round trip: 9.2 kg / 20 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Springfield and Athens. The current time is 00:39:26.

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.