Belleville, IL to Lombard, IL is 282.9 miles and takes about 5h 23m via I 55 and Veterans Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. The route is primarily highway driving, making it a straightforward trip for anyone looking to cover ground efficiently. With a recommended one-day drive, you can easily complete this before sunset, leaving you with plenty of time to settle in at your destination.
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
141.5 miles from Belleville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
253.5 mi
4h 35m
North Illinois Street
9.3 mi
14m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
9 mi
11m
Vandalia Street
2.8 mi
4m
Finley Road
1.8 mi
3m
South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
South Main Street
1 mi
1m
East Madison Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 253.5 mi, about 4h 35m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,633 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,039
Quietest
2 AM
~154 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.6×
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 Belleville, IL and Lombard, IL.
1
Start on East F Street
59 ft·6 sec·East F Street
2
Turn right onto IL 159
9.3 mi·14 min·North Illinois Street
3
Continue on IL 159
1.3 mi·1 min·South Morrison Avenue
4
Continue on IL 159
2.8 mi·4 min·Vandalia Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 55 North, I 70 East
6
Merge onto I 55; I 70; US 40
3.8 mi·4 min·I 55; I 70; US 40
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
108 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
112 mi·2 hr 3 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, PeoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 269Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest SuburbsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
12
Merge onto I 355
9.0 mi·11 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 22Toward IL 56: Butterfield RoadUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 22Toward IL 56: Butterfield RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
220 ft·7 sec
Toward Oak BrookUse the right lane.
16
Turn straight onto IL 56
464 ft·10 sec·Butterfield Road
17
Turn left onto Finley Road
1.8 mi·3 min·Finley Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto IL 38
0.5 mi·1 min·West Roosevelt Road
19
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto East Madison Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Madison Street
21
Turn left onto South Grace Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South Grace Street
22
Arrive at destination
South Grace Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 23m duration, leaving Belleville in the morning is your best bet to have a relaxed drive. You'll want to plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major exit could be around 253.5 miles on I 55. The $43 fuel cost is an estimate, so confirm current prices before you depart. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart a bit later if needed, but an earlier start ensures you arrive with daylight to spare.
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 141.5 miles from Belleville, IL, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 253.5 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 62 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.5 miles or 2h 40m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lombard, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belleville, 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 Belleville, IL
This is one driving day of about 282.9 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Belleville, 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 253.5 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 125.5 and 278.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
125.5 mi into trip|~2h 23m 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
154.9 mi into trip|~2h 54m 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
267.3 mi into trip|~4h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
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 269
Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest...
8
278.3 mi into trip|~5h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 56: Butterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward IL 56: Butterfield Road
8
278.6 mi into trip|~5h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Oak Brook
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Oak Brook
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.16 one way
$86.32 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$47.54
$95.07
premium
$4.81
$53.53
$107.06
diesel
$5.40
$60.18
$120.36
Estimated Tolls: $0.63
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(9 mi)$0.63
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.9
1
$29.70
$13.58
Efficient EV
70.7
0
$24.75
$11.32
EV Truck/SUV
113.2
1
$39.61
$18.11
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Apr 23, 2026
Origin
Belleville, IL
Afternoon
in Belleville on Sunday
Local time
12:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lombard, IL
Afternoon
in Lombard on Sunday
Local time
12:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Athens, IL
141 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
15 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 23m 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...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 273.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 90% of this drive on highways, covering a significant stretch of 253.5 miles on I 55. Expect a consistent highway feel for the majority of the trip. The transition to surface roads will likely occur closer to your destination in Lombard, as you navigate off I 55 and onto North Illinois Street and the Veterans Memorial Tollway.
90% 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: 253.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and North Illinois Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 125.5 miles in near I 55.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 282.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 125.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 154.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 267.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Belleville, IL and Lombard, IL, road signs point toward Springfield, Kansas City, Peoria and Southwest Suburbs.
Lombard is a suburb of Chicago in Illinois and is considered part of Chicagoland. Lombard is a small town with a tight-knit community built around its high schools and the downtown Lombard culture. Residents of Lombard are very friendly and familial and willing to guide tourists to various locations in Chicago and Chicagoland.
Top landmarks
•First Church of Lombard — historic building in Lombard, IL, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 23m. Total distance: 282.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 253.5 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.63 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 31 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lombard, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 125.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 154.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 267.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lombard, IL before the return drive.
