How far is Third Lake, IL from Springfield, IL?

The driving distance from Third Lake, IL to Springfield, IL is about 234.4 miles (377.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 197 miles (317 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 39m 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
234.43 mi
03h 49m
Flight
197.01 mi
317.05 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Third Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
197.01 mi
Kilometers
317.05 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
234.43 mi
Kilometers
377.28 km
Drive Time
03h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Springfield
Sun, Apr 19, 6:03 PM CDT
Return by in Third Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 9:52 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Third Lake
2026-04-19T14:13
Arrive Springfield
Sun, Apr 19, 6:03 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:50 AM to 11:50 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
9:20 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Third Lake
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
Odell
IL

Township in Livingston County, Illinois

From Third Lake
116.3 mi
01h 54m
To Springfield
118.1 mi
01h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
50°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph WNW
Destination
60°F
Sunday

Patchy Frost then Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 14 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Third Lake and Springfield.

  1. 1

    Start on South Lake Avenue

    12 m · 4 sec · South Lake Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Sunshine Avenue

    2367 ft · 2 min · Sunshine Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Grant Avenue

    75 m · 18 sec · North Grant Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left

    2931 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Rollins Road

    3048 ft · 1 min · Rollins Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto West Grand Avenue

    2.3 mi · 4 min · West Grand Avenue

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago

    2703 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    16.4 mi · 19 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    22.7 mi · 29 min · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

    1 km · 1 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    2295 ft · 56 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    119.4 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

    59.5 mi · 1 hr 4 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 97 West

    2280 ft · 43 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Clear Lake Avenue

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Clear Lake Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on East Jefferson Street

    2261 ft · 1 min · East Jefferson Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto North 7th Street

    124 m · 19 sec · North 7th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto East Washington Street

    768 ft · 24 sec · East Washington Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Washington Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119 mi · 51%
I 55 South
60 mi · 26%
Tri-State Tollway
45.1 mi · 19%
West Grand Avenue
2.29 mi · 1%
Clear Lake Avenue
2.12 mi · 1%
I 55
0.63 mi
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

119 mi · 02h 13m

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 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.4 mi
197 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Odell
01h 54m from Third Lake
Leave By
9:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Third Lake and Patchy Frost then Sunny near Springfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Third Lake to Springfield?

The road trip is about 234.4 miles (377.3 km) and usually takes 03h 49m 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?

Odell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 116.3 miles from Third Lake and 118.1 miles from Springfield.

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

The direct path is about 197 miles (317 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.4 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 9:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.19 one way or $62.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Third Lake and Patchy Frost then Sunny near Springfield.

Stop Ideas Near Odell

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

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

RAIL

Dwight station

13 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

17 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Gilman

52 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Kankakee

57 mi away
199 South East Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Third Lake and Springfield. Straight-line distance: 197.01 mi (317.05 km).

Third Lake

#1 Third Lake

City in Illinois, United States of America

Population1,145
Coordinates42.3739100, -88.0109100
Altitude235
CountryUnited States
Springfield

#2 Springfield

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

Population113,671
Coordinates39.8017200, -89.6437100
Altitude182
CountryUnited States
Start: South Lake Avenue (-88.010773, 42.373997)
End: East Washington Street (-89.643712, 39.801639)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 377 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.27 gal
31.31 L · about $31.19
Round trip
$62.37
16.54 gal · 62.62 L
Estimated CO2
73.5 kg one way
Round trip: 147 kg / 324 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.19 $62.37
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.17 $70.34
Premium $4.65 $38.49 $76.98
Diesel $5.30 $43.86 $87.73

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Third Lake and Springfield. The current time is 14:13:18.

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.