Bolingbrook to Saline is 338 miles and takes about 6h 33m via I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, and Veterans Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically the state of Illinois, making it a straightforward drive. With a high percentage of highway driving, you can expect a relatively efficient journey. This route is best suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to cover significant ground without needing an overnight stop.
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
169 miles from Bolingbrook, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
252.4 mi
4h 32m
Ken Gray Expressway
37.4 mi
40m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
11.6 mi
12m
I 80
10.6 mi
12m
West Deyoung Street
7.8 mi
11m
Stonefort Road
5.1 mi
12m
Saraville Road
3.7 mi
8m
Will Scarlet Road
1.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 252.4 mi, about 4h 32m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,073 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,461
Quietest
2 AM
~180 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 99 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 Bolingbrook, IL and Saline, 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
1.2 mi·1 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
4
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 269Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest SuburbsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 355 South: Southwest SuburbsUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 355
12 mi·12 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 0AToward I 80 East: Indiana
8
Merge onto I 80
11 mi·12 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 151AToward I 57 South: Memphis
10
Merge onto I 57
187 mi·3 hr 21 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
37 mi·40 min·Ken Gray Expressway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
16
Merge onto IL 13
7.8 mi·11 min·West Deyoung Street
17
Turn right onto Crab Orchard Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Crab Orchard Road
18
Turn right onto Saraville Road
3.7 mi·8 min·Saraville Road
19
Keep slight left at fork onto Stonefort Road
5.1 mi·12 min·Stonefort Road
20
Continue on Will Scarlet Road
1.3 mi·5 min·Will Scarlet Road
21
Turn left onto Peabody Road
0.7 mi·2 min·Peabody Road
22
Arrive at destination
Peabody Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6.5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Bolingbrook to ensure you have ample daylight. You'll likely only need one planned stop for fuel or a break, given the drive's duration. With 252.4 miles on I 57, this is your prime opportunity to cover a substantial portion of the distance efficiently. Keep an eye on your fuel levels as you approach the end of the interstate section, as services might become less frequent on the final surface roads into Saline.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 169 miles from Bolingbrook, IL, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 252.4 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 74 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 169 miles or 3h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saline, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bolingbrook, 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 Bolingbrook, IL
This is one driving day of about 338 miles and 6h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Bolingbrook, 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 57 for about 252.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 317.7 — 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
8
2.4 mi into trip|~4m 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...
7
3 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 355 South: Southwest Suburbs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 355 South: Southwest Suburbs
6
15.2 mi into trip|~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
6
317.7 mi into trip|~5h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.38 one way
$112.76 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$61.52
$123.04
premium
$5.25
$69.90
$139.80
diesel
$6.28
$83.52
$167.03
Estimated Tolls: $0.81
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(11.6 mi)$0.81
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
$56
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.4
1
$35.49
$16.22
Efficient EV
84.5
0
$29.58
$13.52
EV Truck/SUV
135.2
1
$47.32
$21.63
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Bolingbrook, IL
Afternoon
in Bolingbrook on Thursday
Local time
1:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
S 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Saline, IL
Afternoon
in Saline on Thursday
Local time
1:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Clear
SW 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
66°F
Shelbyville, IL
169 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
2 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
6h 33m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Pullman National Historical Park
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 23.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on interstates, with 89% of this 338-mile route being highway driving. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 252.4 miles on I 57. Expect the highway portion to conclude as you approach your destination, transitioning to surface roads for the final miles. The extensive highway mileage suggests a consistent cruising experience with fewer interruptions from local traffic.
89% 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: 252.4 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 338 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 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
733 ft411 ft
Total Climb
110 ft
Total Descent
401 ft
Highest Point
733 ft
~120.7 mi in
Elevation Range
322 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bolingbrook, IL and Saline, IL, road signs point toward Marion and Carbondale.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 33m. Total distance: 338 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 252.4 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.81 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 43 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 Saline, 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 43 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saline, IL before the return drive.
