Origin
Bolingbrook, IL
Morning in Bolingbrook on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bolingbrook, IL to Ottawa, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
55.1 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ottawa, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bolingbrook, IL to Ottawa, IL is 55.1 miles and takes about 1h 5m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip within the Midwest, connecting two points in Illinois. The drive is primarily on highways, making it a quick and efficient journey. Given its short duration, it's ideal for a same-day excursion without feeling rushed. You'll experience a consistent driving environment for the entire trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 32.1 mi | 34m |
| I 55 | 16 mi | 18m |
| Illinois Route 71 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| North Bolingbrook Drive | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North 2753rd Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Green Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| La Salle Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 32.1 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bolingbrook, IL and Ottawa, IL.
1
Start on IL 53
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Bolingbrook Drive
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
3
Merge onto I 55
16 mi
·
18 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 250B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 80
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 93
Toward IL 71: Ottawa, Oswego
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto IL 71
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Illinois Route 71
8
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
9
Turn right onto North 2753rd Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2753rd Road
10
Continue on North Green Street
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
North Green Street
11
Continue on East Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
12
Turn left onto IL 23; IL 71
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
La Salle Street
13
Arrive at destination
IL 23; IL 71
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.5 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 52.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
17.2 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 250B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
5
18 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
50.1 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward IL 71: Ottawa, Oswego
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 93
Toward IL 71: Ottawa, Oswego
4
52.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.61 one way
$17.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.46 | $18.92 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.60 | $21.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.17 | $24.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.79 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.71 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Ottawa, IL
Morning in Ottawa on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
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
1h 5m 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 route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 92% of the journey on interstates and major roads. Expect long stretches of consistent speed, including a 32.1-mile segment on I 80 without significant interruptions. The profile suggests a highway-focused drive, meaning you'll likely encounter typical interstate conditions for most of the 55.1 miles. While mostly on fast roads, the inclusion of Illinois Route 71 means there might be a slight shift in pace or road type towards the end, though the overall feel remains efficient.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.1 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 55. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near I 55.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 55.1 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: at 1.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Bolingbrook, IL to Ottawa, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Oswego along the way.
Oswego
50.1 mi in
|
~57m
About the Cities
Arriving in Ottawa, IL
Full guide →Ottawa is one of many towns in the Illinois River Valley of Northern Illinois.
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 1h 5m. Total distance: 55.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.1 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Ottawa, 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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