How far is West Frankfort, IL from Springfield, IL?

The driving distance from West Frankfort, IL to Springfield, IL is about 177.3 miles (285.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 137 miles (220.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
177.28 mi
02h 48m
Flight
137.01 mi
220.5 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from West Frankfort.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
137.01 mi
Kilometers
220.5 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
177.28 mi
Kilometers
285.3 km
Drive Time
02h 48m

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 02h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Springfield
Tue, May 12, 9:04 PM CDT
Return by in West Frankfort
Tue, May 12, 11:53 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave West Frankfort
2026-05-12T18:15
Arrive Springfield
Tue, May 12, 9:04 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:49 AM to 12:49 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:52 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in West Frankfort
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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 West Frankfort
79.8 mi
01h 24m
To Springfield
97.4 mi
01h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
1 to 12 mph SSW
Destination
82°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 18 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Frankfort and Springfield.

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    6 m · 1 sec

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout

    1714 ft · 42 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

    31 mi · 34 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    20.5 mi · 22 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval

    2199 ft · 54 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto West Main Street

    2.4 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  8. 8

    Continue on East Poplar Street

    2.7 mi · 3 min · East Poplar Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Poplar

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Poplar

  10. 10

    Turn right onto 150E

    10.4 mi · 12 min · 150E

  11. 11

    Continue on 300E

    13.5 mi · 15 min · 300E

  12. 12

    Turn left

    2405 ft · 35 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto North Kennedy Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · North Kennedy Boulevard

  14. 14

    Continue on County Road 875 East

    11.1 mi · 13 min · County Road 875 East

  15. 15

    Continue on South Superior Street

    15.1 mi · 17 min · South Superior Street

  16. 16

    Continue on County Road 2400 East

    2 mi · 3 min · County Road 2400 East

  17. 17

    Continue on Fair Avenue

    3070 ft · 2 min · Fair Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on South Poplar Street

    1675 ft · 29 sec · South Poplar Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto West 2nd Street

    1948 ft · 1 min · West 2nd Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto South State Street

    1084 ft · 53 sec · South State Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto West Washington Street

    1470 ft · 46 sec · West Washington Street

  22. 22

    Continue on N 2000 East Road

    5.4 mi · 8 min · N 2000 East Road

  23. 23

    Continue on State Route 29

    5.1 mi · 8 min · State Route 29

  24. 24

    Continue on East Park Street

    5.3 mi · 8 min · East Park Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto North Webster Street

    2286 ft · 33 sec · North Webster Street

  26. 26

    Continue on West Springfield Road

    15.7 mi · 19 min · West Springfield Road

  27. 27

    Continue straight

    1.3 mi · 1 min

  28. 28

    Continue straight

    5.4 mi · 8 min

  29. 29

    Continue straight

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  30. 30

    Turn straight

    1 mi · 2 min

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Clear Lake Avenue

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Clear Lake Avenue

  32. 32

    Continue on East Jefferson Street

    2261 ft · 1 min · East Jefferson Street

  33. 33

    Turn left onto North 7th Street

    124 m · 19 sec · North 7th Street

  34. 34

    Turn left onto East Washington Street

    768 ft · 24 sec · East Washington Street

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Washington Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
35 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ken Gray Expressway
51.4 mi · 29%
West Springfield Road
23.4 mi · 13%
South Superior Street
15.1 mi · 9%
300E
13.5 mi · 8%
County Road 875 East
11.1 mi · 6%
150E
10.4 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Ken Gray Expressway

Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

31 mi · 00h 34m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 48m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.3 mi
137 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vandalia
01h 24m from West Frankfort
Leave By
12:52 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving West Frankfort and Sunny near Springfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from West Frankfort to Springfield?

The road trip is about 177.3 miles (285.3 km) and usually takes 02h 48m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Vandalia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.8 miles from West Frankfort and 97.4 miles from Springfield.

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

The direct path is about 137 miles (220.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:52 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.61 one way or $47.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around West Frankfort and Sunny near Springfield.

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 West Frankfort and Springfield. Straight-line distance: 137.01 mi (220.5 km).

West Frankfort

#1 West Frankfort

City in Illinois, USA

Population7,733
Coordinates37.8978300, -88.9314600
Altitude122
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: West Main Street (-88.93146, 37.897945)
End: East Washington Street (-89.643712, 39.801639)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 285 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.26 gal
23.68 L · about $23.61
Round trip
$47.21
12.52 gal · 47.36 L
Estimated CO2
55.6 kg one way
Round trip: 111.3 kg / 245 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.61 $47.21
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.62 $53.25
Premium $4.65 $29.13 $58.27
Diesel $5.30 $33.20 $66.41

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between West Frankfort and Springfield. The current time is 18:15:45.

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.