How far is Springfield, IL from Shields, IL?

The driving distance from Springfield, IL to Shields, IL is about 131 miles (210.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 104.8 miles (168.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 31m 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
131.06 mi
03h 15m
Flight
104.78 mi
168.63 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
104.78 mi
Kilometers
168.63 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
131.06 mi
Kilometers
210.92 km
Drive Time
03h 15m

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 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Shields
Thu, Apr 23, 6:25 AM CDT
Return by in Springfield
Thu, Apr 23, 9:40 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Springfield
2026-04-23T03:09
Arrive Shields
Thu, Apr 23, 6:25 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:16 AM to 11:16 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
10:28 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
Ramsey
IL

Village in Illinois, United States

From Springfield
65.6 mi
01h 37m
To Shields
65.5 mi
01h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 17 mph S
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 18 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    7.1 mi · 8 min

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 161: Centralia

    1387 ft · 34 sec

  29. 29

    Turn straight

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  30. 30

    Continue on State Route 161 Extended

    10.3 mi · 25 min · State Route 161 Extended

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Malachi Road

    2.1 mi · 8 min · Malachi Road

  32. 32

    Continue on Malachi Road

    1 mi · 4 min · Malachi Road

  33. 33

    Continue on County Road 2150 East

    1385 ft · 1 min · County Road 2150 East

  34. 34

    Turn left onto County Road 2375 North

    1.8 mi · 7 min · County Road 2375 North

  35. 35

    Turn right onto North Papertown Lane

    1311 ft · 58 sec · North Papertown Lane

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Papertown Lane

Car Route Details

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

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
36 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
27.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Dirksen Parkway
22.6 mi · 17%
250E
17.8 mi · 14%
300 East Road
15.1 mi · 12%
United States Highway 51
13.4 mi · 10%
County Road 875 East
11.1 mi · 8%
State Route 161 Extended
10.3 mi · 8%
Longest Stretch

North Dirksen Parkway

Continue straight

15.7 mi · 00h 20m

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 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.2 mi
104.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ramsey
01h 37m from Springfield
Leave By
10:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Springfield and Sunny near Shields.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 131 miles (210.9 km) and usually takes 03h 15m 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?

Ramsey is a useful midpoint, sitting about 65.6 miles from Springfield and 65.5 miles from Shields.

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

The direct path is about 104.8 miles (168.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.2 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 10:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.46 one way or $34.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 41.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Springfield and Sunny near Shields.

Stop Ideas Near Ramsey

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

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

RAIL

Effingham

49 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Carlinville

69 mi away
128 Alton Rd.
RAIL

Centralia station

69 mi away
108 East Broadway
RAIL

Mattoon station

73 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Springfield and Shields. Straight-line distance: 104.78 mi (168.63 km).

Springfield

#1 Springfield

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

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

#2 Shields

Township in Lake County, Illinois

Population36,451
Coordinates38.4678300, -88.7133900
Altitude150
CountryUnited States
Start: Springfield (-89.64371, 39.80172)
End: Shields (-88.71339, 38.46783)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 211 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.63 gal
17.51 L · about $17.46
Round trip
$34.92
9.26 gal · 35.02 L
Estimated CO2
41.1 kg one way
Round trip: 82.3 kg / 181 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $17.46 $34.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $19.69 $39.38
Premium $4.65 $21.55 $43.10
Diesel $5.30 $24.56 $49.12

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 Shields. The current time is 03:09:51.

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.