Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
85.2 mi
137 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dixon, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Bolingbrook, IL to Dixon, IL is 85.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 43 minutes via the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns, making it a straightforward, one-day trip. You'll mainly be on local roads with a significant portion on the tollway, so be prepared for a mix of driving experiences. It's a relatively short journey, perfect for a quick getaway or an easy relocation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.6 miles from Bolingbrook, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 72.3 mi | 1h 19m |
| North Bolingbrook Drive | 7.8 mi | 14m |
| Warrenville Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| IL 26 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Freedom Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bolingbrook, IL and Dixon, IL.
Start on IL 53
Continue on IL 53
Turn left onto Warrenville Road
Turn left onto Freedom Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
Take the exit
Turn right onto IL 26
Turn right onto East 6th Street
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short 1 hour 43 minute duration, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times for this trip from Bolingbrook to Dixon. Leaving mid-morning would allow you to avoid peak rush hour traffic in the Bolingbrook area. The longest stretch on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway is 72.3 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you get too far onto the tollway, as services might be less frequent once you're on that longer segment. With only 85.2 miles total and a $13 fuel estimate, you won't need extensive breaks, but consider a quick stop for a stretch after about an hour of driving.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 19 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.6 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dixon, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bolingbrook, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bolingbrook, IL
This is one driving day of about 85.2 miles and 1h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.6 miles from Bolingbrook, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 23.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Continue onto IL 53 / North Bolingbrook Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Warrenville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 88 Toll West: Aurora
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$13.32 one way
$26.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.62 | $29.25 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.40 | $32.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.81 | $37.62 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.34
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
$13
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.95 | $4.09 |
| Efficient EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.93 | $5.45 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Bolingbrook on Sunday
Local time
10:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Dixon on Sunday
Local time
10:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting it's not a simple straight shot. While 72.3 miles are covered on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, the overall profile indicates a significant amount of local road navigation. The highway share is around 2, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on local streets rather than continuous highway. This suggests a drive where you'll be making frequent turns and potentially navigating through more populated areas before reaching the open tollway, and again as you approach your destination.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 53 / North Bolingbrook Drive.
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 85.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 (IL 53 / North Bolingbrook Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles (Warrenville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 85.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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