Origin
Bolingbrook, IL
Late night in Bolingbrook on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bolingbrook, IL to Northbrook, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
40.4 mi
65 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northbrook, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bolingbrook to Northbrook is 40.4 miles and takes about 56 minutes via Tri-State Tollway and Adlai Stevenson Expressway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily through the Midwest region of Illinois. Expect a drive that involves a good amount of time on tollways, making it a quick connection between the two suburban Chicago locations. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a quick errand or a simple relocation.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 23.8 mi | 29m |
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 9.6 mi | 12m |
| Willow Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Shermer Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Bolingbrook Drive | 1 mi | 2m |
| 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Walters Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 23.8 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bolingbrook, IL and Northbrook, IL.
1
Start on IL 53
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Bolingbrook Drive
2
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
3
Merge onto I 55
9.6 mi
·
12 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
1.6 mi
·
3 min
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
6
Merge onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
19 mi
·
24 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 48
Toward Willow Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
this road
Exit 48
Toward Willow Road
10
Turn right onto Willow Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Willow Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Shermer Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Shermer Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto Walters Avenue
121 ft
·
3 sec
·
Walters Avenue
13
Turn right onto 1st Street
294 ft
·
14 sec
·
1st Street
14
Turn right
298 ft
·
21 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Bolingbrook, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 36.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward I 55 North: Chicago
Navigation decision point
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
10.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
6
17.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
36.4 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward Willow Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 48
Toward Willow Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.32 one way
$12.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.93 | $13.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.77 | $15.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.92 | $17.84 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.43
Tri-state Tollway
(23.8 mi)
$1.43
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Northbrook, IL
Late night in Northbrook on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
56m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with a highway share of about 24%. While you'll spend some time on major expressways like the Tri-State Tollway and Adlai Stevenson Expressway, much of the journey will involve navigating local roads such as Willow Road. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 23.8 miles on the Tri-State Tollway, indicating that the latter half of the trip will likely involve more frequent turns and local traffic. Be prepared for varied driving conditions as you transition from faster-paced highway segments to more stop-and-go local streets.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.8 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 40.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Northbrook, IL
Full guide →Northbrook is a city of 33,000 people (2019) in Illinois. Northbrook's downtown shopping district features boutiques and specialty stores.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 40.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.8 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.43 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state 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.
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 Northbrook, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Northbrook, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
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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