How far is Springfield, IL from Cincinnati, IL?

The driving distance from Springfield, IL to Cincinnati, IL is about 156.4 miles (251.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 114.2 miles (183.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 00m 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
156.37 mi
03h 30m
Flight
114.23 mi
183.84 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Springfield.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
114.23 mi
Kilometers
183.84 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
156.37 mi
Kilometers
251.66 km
Drive Time
03h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cincinnati
Sat, Apr 18, 10:08 AM CDT
Return by in Springfield
Sat, Apr 18, 1:39 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Springfield
2026-04-18T06:38
Arrive Cincinnati
Sat, Apr 18, 10:08 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:30 AM to 11:30 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
10:00 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Springfield
9:00 PM CDT
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
Vandalia
IL

Township in Fayette County, Illinois

From Springfield
78.2 mi
01h 45m
To Cincinnati
78.2 mi
01h 45m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 mph WNW
Destination
73°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 16 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Washington Street

    1206 ft · 42 sec · East Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North 12th Street

    1013 ft · 36 sec · North 12th Street

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto Clear Lake Avenue

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Clear Lake Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North Dirksen Parkway

    1.6 km · 2 min · North Dirksen Parkway

  5. 5

    Turn left

    538 ft · 18 sec

  6. 6

    Turn straight

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    4.7 mi · 7 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    15.7 mi · 20 min

  10. 10

    Continue on North Webster Street

    2218 ft · 35 sec · North Webster Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto West Park Street

    5.3 mi · 8 min · West Park Street

  12. 12

    Continue on State Route 29

    5.1 mi · 8 min · State Route 29

  13. 13

    Continue on N 2000 East Road

    5.4 mi · 8 min · N 2000 East Road

  14. 14

    Continue on West Washington Street

    1 km · 2 min · West Washington Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto North Poplar Street

    3072 ft · 1 min · North Poplar Street

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Fair Avenue

    3070 ft · 2 min · Fair Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on County Road 2400 E

    2 mi · 3 min · County Road 2400 E

  18. 18

    Continue on 300 East Road

    15.1 mi · 17 min · 300 East Road

  19. 19

    Continue on County Road 875 East

    11.1 mi · 13 min · County Road 875 East

  20. 20

    Continue on North Kennedy Boulevard

    1.5 mi · 2 min · North Kennedy Boulevard

  21. 21

    Turn left onto West Gallatin Street

    2405 ft · 34 sec · West Gallatin Street

  22. 22

    Turn right

    554 ft · 7 sec

  23. 23

    Continue on United States Highway 51

    13.4 mi · 15 min · United States Highway 51

  24. 24

    Continue on 250E

    10.4 mi · 12 min · 250E

  25. 25

    Turn left

    7.6 mi · 9 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit left

    1847 ft · 45 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight left

    21.4 mi · 23 min

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 15: Ashley, Mt. Vernon

    1624 ft · 42 sec

  29. 29

    Turn straight onto Broadway Street

    3.7 mi · 7 min · Broadway Street

  30. 30

    Continue on New Fairfield Road

    7 mi · 10 min · New Fairfield Road

  31. 31

    Continue on Fairfield Road

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Fairfield Road

  32. 32

    Continue on County Road 600 North

    4.8 mi · 7 min · County Road 600 North

  33. 33

    Continue on County Road 610 North

    1506 ft · 25 sec · County Road 610 North

  34. 34

    Continue on West Robinson Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Robinson Avenue

  35. 35

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

    4.6 mi · 7 min · North Main Street

  36. 36

    Turn left onto 900E

    2 mi · 5 min · 900E

  37. 37

    Turn right onto County Road 1000N

    1 mi · 4 min · County Road 1000N

  38. 38

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · County Road 1000N

Car Route Details

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

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
38 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
250E
32.2 mi · 21%
North Dirksen Parkway
22.6 mi · 14%
300 East Road
15.1 mi · 10%
United States Highway 51
13.4 mi · 9%
County Road 875 East
11.1 mi · 7%
New Fairfield Road
6.95 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

250E

Merge slight left

21.4 mi · 00h 23m

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 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42.2 mi
114.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vandalia
01h 45m from Springfield
Leave By
10:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Springfield and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Cincinnati.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 156.4 miles (251.7 km) and usually takes 03h 30m 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?

Vandalia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 78.2 miles from Springfield and 78.2 miles from Cincinnati.

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

The direct path is about 114.2 miles (183.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.2 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.82 one way or $41.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Vandalia

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

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

RAIL

Centralia station

48 mi away
108 East Broadway
RAIL

Effingham

51 mi away
401 West National Ave.
BUS

Mt. Vernon, IL

73 mi away
102 Potomac Boulevard
RAIL

Carlinville

77 mi away
128 Alton Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Springfield and Cincinnati. Straight-line distance: 114.23 mi (183.84 km).

Springfield

#1 Springfield

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

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

#2 Cincinnati

Township in Tazewell County, Illinois

Population8,830
Coordinates38.4008800, -88.5119900
Altitude128
CountryUnited States
Start: Springfield (-89.64371, 39.80172)
End: Cincinnati (-88.51199, 38.40088)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 252 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.52 gal
20.89 L · about $20.82
Round trip
$41.63
11.04 gal · 41.78 L
Estimated CO2
49.1 kg one way
Round trip: 98.1 kg / 216 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.82 $41.63
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.48 $46.95
Premium $4.65 $25.69 $51.38
Diesel $5.30 $29.28 $58.56

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Springfield and Cincinnati. The current time is 06:38:47.

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.