Alton, IL to Bolingbrook, IL is 258.9 miles and takes about 4h 53m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region from one point to another. Given its primarily highway profile, expect a relatively straightforward drive. It's a good option for a single-day excursion, making it convenient for a quick getaway or a purposeful journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
129.4 miles from Alton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
236.8 mi
4h 16m
State Route 140
9.7 mi
13m
College Avenue
3.9 mi
6m
West Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi
3m
West MacArthur Drive
1.4 mi
2m
West Macarthur Drive
1.3 mi
2m
South Bolingbrook Drive
1.1 mi
2m
Martin Luther King Drive
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 236.8 mi, about 4h 16m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,689 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,115
Quietest
2 AM
~152 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alton, IL and Bolingbrook, IL.
1
Start on Alby Street
190 ft·10 sec·Alby Street
2
Turn right onto East Broadway
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Broadway
3
Turn right onto US 67
0.4 mi·36 sec·Piasa Street
4
Continue on US 67
0.9 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Drive
5
Turn right onto College Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·College Avenue
6
Turn right
67 ft·1 sec
7
Enter roundabout onto College Avenue
380 ft·9 sec·College Avenue
8
Continue on College Avenue
3.6 mi·6 min·College Avenue
9
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.3 mi·2 min·West Macarthur Drive
10
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.4 mi·2 min·West MacArthur Drive
11
Continue on IL 140
1.8 mi·3 min·West Bethalto Drive
12
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi·13 min·State Route 140
13
Continue on IL 140
0.8 mi·1 min·West State Street
14
Continue on IL 140
443 ft·13 sec·State Route 140
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
16
Merge onto I 55
97 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 55
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
111 mi·2 hr·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, PeoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 267Toward IL 53: Bolingbrook, RomeovilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto IL 53
1.1 mi·2 min·South Bolingbrook Drive
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on IL 53
0.1 mi·24 sec·North Bolingbrook Drive
22
Arrive at destination
IL 53
Trip Plan
For this 4h 53m drive, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. With a fuel cost estimated at $40, it's a budget-friendly trip. You'll have one recommended stop, which is ample for a drive of this length, allowing you to break up the 236.8-mile stretch on I 55. Pay attention to the transition from highway to surface roads near your destination, as this is where you'll need to navigate local streets. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your timing.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 129.4 miles from Alton, IL, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 236.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 57 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.4 miles or 2h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bolingbrook, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alton, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alton, IL
This is one driving day of about 258.9 miles and 4h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Alton, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 236.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 257.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Broadway
Turn right onto East Broadway
Navigation decision point
6
1.7 mi into trip|~2m in|College Avenue
Enter roundabout onto College Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
117.3 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
146.6 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
8
257.4 mi into trip|~4h 50m in
Take the exit toward IL 53: Bolingbrook, Romeoville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 267
Toward IL 53: Bolingbrook, Romeoville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.23 one way
$76.47 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$42.21
$84.42
premium
$4.72
$48.07
$96.14
diesel
$4.80
$48.89
$97.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.7
0
$27.18
$12.43
Efficient EV
64.7
0
$22.65
$10.36
EV Truck/SUV
103.6
1
$36.25
$16.57
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Alton, IL
Late night
in Alton on Monday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Bolingbrook, IL
Late night
in Bolingbrook on Monday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
SW 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
67°F
Athens, IL
129 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 53m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 258.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 95% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on Interstate 55 covers 236.8 miles, so be prepared for extended periods of cruising. You'll transition to surface roads like State Route 140 and College Avenue for the final portions of the trip. Expect frequent exits on the highway segments as you pass through various towns and cities.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 236.8 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and State Route 140. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Broadway.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 258.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (College Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 117.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
823 ft493 ft
Total Climb
567 ft
Total Descent
359 ft
Highest Point
823 ft
~147.9 mi in
Elevation Range
330 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Alton, IL to Bolingbrook, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.
Alton is a charming river town in Illinois just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. Once a blue collar town of heavy manufacturing, Alton has transformed itself into a tourist destination and wedding and reception resort of the Midwest.
Top landmarks
•Alton National Cemetery — United States National Cemetery located in the city of Alton, in Madison County,...
•Alton Military Prison — prison located in Alton, Illinois
•Upper Alton Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 53m. Total distance: 258.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 236.8 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (College Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 117.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Bolingbrook, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
