How far is Springfield, IL from Decatur, IL?

The driving distance from Springfield, IL to Decatur, IL is about 38.6 miles (62.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36.7 miles (59 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 21m 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
38.62 mi
00h 40m
Flight
36.65 mi
58.99 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Springfield.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
38.62 mi
Kilometers
62.15 km
Drive Time
00h 40m

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 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Decatur
Fri, May 1, 2:16 PM CDT
Return by in Springfield
Fri, May 1, 2:56 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Springfield
2026-05-01T13:35
Arrive Decatur
Fri, May 1, 2:16 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 40m
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 Springfield
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Lanesville
IL

Township in Sangamon County, Illinois

From Springfield
19.3 mi
00h 20m
To Decatur
19.3 mi
00h 20m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph NNW
Destination
57°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Washington Street

    1206 ft · 46 sec · East Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North 12th Street

    1013 ft · 35 sec · North 12th Street

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto Clear Lake Avenue

    2.5 mi · 5 min · Clear Lake Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    29.5 mi · 32 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 36 East, US 51 South: Decatur, Pana

    1656 ft · 41 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on US 36 East: Decatur

    5.5 mi · 8 min

  7. 7

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1985 ft · 49 sec · North Main Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto East Wood Street

    91 m · 8 sec · East Wood Street

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Wood Street

Car Route Details

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

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
9 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
23.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Clear Lake Avenue
32 mi · 83%
US 36 East
5.79 mi · 15%
North Main Street
0.38 mi · 1%
East Washington Street
0.23 mi · 1%
North 12th Street
0.19 mi
East Wood Street
0.06 mi
Longest Stretch

Clear Lake Avenue

Continue straight

29.5 mi · 00h 32m

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 40m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.9 mi
36.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lanesville
00h 20m from Springfield
Leave By
7:08 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Springfield and Mostly Sunny near Decatur.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 38.6 miles (62.1 km) and usually takes 00h 40m 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 19.3 miles from Springfield and 19.3 miles from Decatur.

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 1.9 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 7:08 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.13 one way or $10.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Springfield and Mostly Sunny near Decatur.

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 Springfield and Decatur. Straight-line distance: 36.65 mi (58.99 km).

Springfield

#1 Springfield

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

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

#2 Decatur

The most populous city in Macon County, Illinois.

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

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 62 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 57m
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 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.36 gal
5.16 L · about $5.13
Round trip
$10.26
2.72 gal · 10.32 L
Estimated CO2
12.1 kg one way
Round trip: 24.2 kg / 53 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.13 $10.26
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.78 $11.57
Premium $4.65 $6.33 $12.66
Diesel $5.30 $7.21 $14.43

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 · May 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Springfield and Decatur. The current time is 13:35:39.

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.