How far is Springfield, IL from McLeansboro, IL?

The driving distance from Springfield, IL to McLeansboro, IL is about 160.5 miles (258.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 132.2 miles (212.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 51m 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
160.48 mi
03h 25m
Flight
132.2 mi
212.76 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
132.2 mi
Kilometers
212.76 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
160.48 mi
Kilometers
258.27 km
Drive Time
03h 25m

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 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in McLeansboro
Thu, Apr 23, 12:21 AM CDT
Return by in Springfield
Thu, Apr 23, 3:47 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Springfield
2026-04-22T20:55
Arrive McLeansboro
Thu, Apr 23, 12:21 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:26 AM to 11:26 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
10:08 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
Vandalia
IL

Township in Fayette County, Illinois

From Springfield
80.3 mi
01h 42m
To McLeansboro
80.2 mi
01h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    24.5 mi · 27 min

  28. 28

    Keep slight left to continue on I 64 East: Louisville

    10.7 mi · 12 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward Belle Rive, Bluford

    1901 ft · 36 sec

  30. 30

    Turn right onto County Highway 17

    736 ft · 15 sec · County Highway 17

  31. 31

    Continue on Brehm Lane

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Brehm Lane

  32. 32

    Continue on North Main Street

    2227 ft · 46 sec · North Main Street

  33. 33

    Turn left

    11.5 mi · 17 min

  34. 34

    Continue on County Road 6

    3.8 mi · 6 min · County Road 6

  35. 35

    Turn right onto South Washington Street

    134 m · 13 sec · South Washington Street

  36. 36

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    132 m · 13 sec · East Main Street

  37. 37

    Turn left onto South Jackson Street

    56 m · 3 sec · South Jackson Street

  38. 38

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Jackson Street

Car Route Details

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

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
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
23.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
250E
35.2 mi · 22%
North Dirksen Parkway
22.6 mi · 14%
300 East Road
15.1 mi · 9%
United States Highway 51
13.4 mi · 8%
County Road 875 East
11.1 mi · 7%
I 64 East
10.7 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

250E

Merge slight left

24.5 mi · 00h 27m

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 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.3 mi
132.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vandalia
01h 42m from Springfield
Leave By
10:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny leaving Springfield and Sunny near McLeansboro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 160.5 miles (258.3 km) and usually takes 03h 25m 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 80.3 miles from Springfield and 80.2 miles from McLeansboro.

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

The direct path is about 132.2 miles (212.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.3 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 10:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.34 one way or $42.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny around Springfield and Sunny near McLeansboro.

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 McLeansboro. Straight-line distance: 132.2 mi (212.76 km).

Springfield

#1 Springfield

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

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

#2 McLeansboro

City in Illinois

Population2,730
Coordinates38.0933800, -88.5356100
Altitude150
CountryUnited States
Start: Springfield (-89.64371, 39.80172)
End: McLeansboro (-88.53561, 38.09338)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 258 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.66 gal
21.44 L · about $21.34
Round trip
$42.69
11.32 gal · 42.88 L
Estimated CO2
50.3 kg one way
Round trip: 100.6 kg / 222 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.34 $42.69
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.07 $48.14
Premium $4.65 $26.34 $52.68
Diesel $5.30 $30.02 $60.04

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Springfield and McLeansboro. The current time is 20:55:11.

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.