How far is Springfield, IL from Louisville, KY?

The driving distance from Springfield, IL to Louisville, KY is about 329.8 miles (530.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 234.3 miles (377 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 20m 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
329.79 mi
05h 10m
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 Springfield.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
329.79 mi
Kilometers
530.75 km
Drive Time
05h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Louisville
Sat, May 30, 2:58 AM EDT
Return by in Springfield
Sat, May 30, 7:08 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Springfield
2026-05-29T20:48
Arrive Louisville
Sat, May 30, 1:58 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:10 PM to 2:10 PM EDT

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

Leave by
6:40 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

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
Crawfordsville
IN

City in Montgomery County, Indiana

From Springfield
160.6 mi
02h 35m
To Louisville
169.1 mi
02h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 29 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 mph ESE
Destination
79°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 29 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    36.5 mi · 39 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    41.9 mi · 45 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 57 North: Chicago

    1520 ft · 43 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    1.9 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 74 East: Indianapolis

    2527 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    129.6 mi · 2 hr 22 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 South: Louisville

    2407 ft · 46 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    106.1 mi · 1 hr 55 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64, I 71 North: Lexington, Cincinnati, Saint Louis

    2054 ft · 41 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight right

    1096 ft · 17 sec

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward 3rd Street, River Road, Downtown

    1223 ft · 30 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on North 3rd Street

    1839 ft · 42 sec · North 3rd Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West Jefferson Street

    1181 ft · 44 sec · West Jefferson Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Jefferson Street

Car Route Details

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

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
17 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 74 East
130 mi · 39%
I 65 South
107 mi · 32%
Clear Lake Avenue
80.9 mi · 25%
I 57 North
2.19 mi · 1%
I 64
0.6 mi
North 3rd Street
0.35 mi
Longest Stretch

I 74 East

Merge slight left

130 mi · 02h 22m

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 10m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+95.5 mi
234.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Crawfordsville
02h 35m from Springfield
Leave By
6:40 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Springfield and Mostly Sunny near Louisville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 329.8 miles (530.8 km) and usually takes 05h 10m 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 Springfield and 169.1 miles from Louisville.

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 95.5 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 6:40 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.89 one way or $87.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 103.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Springfield and Louisville. Straight-line distance: 234.28 mi (377.03 km).

Springfield

#1 Springfield

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

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

#2 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
Start: East Washington Street (-89.643712, 39.801639)
End: West Jefferson Street (-85.759435, 38.254101)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 531 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.64 gal
44.05 L · about $43.89
Round trip
$87.79
23.28 gal · 88.1 L
Estimated CO2
103.4 kg one way
Round trip: 206.9 kg / 456 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $43.89 $87.79
Mid-grade $4.25 $49.50 $99.01
Premium $4.65 $54.17 $108.35
Diesel $5.30 $61.74 $123.48

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 30, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Springfield, IL and Louisville, KY. The current time in Springfield is 20:48:09, although it is 21:48:09 in Louisville.

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.