Bolingbrook to Upper Alton is 256 miles and takes about 4 hours 48 minutes via I 55 and State Route 140, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Illinois, making it a straightforward drive. The majority of your travel will be on the interstate, so expect consistent speeds and plenty of services. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is perfect for a quick, efficient journey between these two points.
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
128 miles from Bolingbrook, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
236.9 mi
4h 17m
State Route 140
9.6 mi
13m
College Avenue
2.4 mi
4m
East Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi
3m
East MacArthur Drive
1.4 mi
2m
West Macarthur Drive
1.3 mi
2m
North Bolingbrook Drive
0.9 mi
1m
East State Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 236.9 mi, about 4h 17m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,743 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,333
Quietest
2 AM
~157 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Upper Alton, 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
109 mi·1 hr 59 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
63 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
7
Turn right onto IL 140
0.7 mi·1 min·East State Street
8
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi·13 min·State Route 140
9
Continue on IL 140
1.8 mi·3 min·East Bethalto Drive
10
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.4 mi·2 min·East MacArthur Drive
11
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.3 mi·2 min·West Macarthur Drive
12
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
2.4 mi·4 min·College Avenue
13
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
0.6 mi·59 sec·Washington Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Washington Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day drive of under 5 hours, you have a lot of flexibility. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach your destination before evening. Plan to make your primary stop for fuel and a break before you hit the transition off I 55, as the longest stretch is significant. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the end of the interstate portion, to ensure you have enough to reach Upper Alton comfortably. The $41 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but always check current prices.
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 128 miles from Bolingbrook, IL, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 236.9 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 56 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upper Alton, 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 256 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 55 for about 236.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 128 miles from Bolingbrook, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 236.9 miles.
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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 238.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Navigation decision point
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
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.
8
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
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 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
5
175.5 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
238.1 mi into trip|~4h 19m in
Take the exit toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.69 one way
$79.38 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$43.52
$87.04
premium
$4.93
$49.67
$99.34
diesel
$5.60
$56.43
$112.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.8
0
$26.88
$12.29
Efficient EV
64
0
$22.40
$10.24
EV Truck/SUV
102.4
1
$35.84
$16.38
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Aug 30, 2026
Origin
Bolingbrook, IL
Afternoon
in Bolingbrook on Saturday
Local time
3:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Upper Alton, IL
Afternoon
in Upper Alton on Saturday
Local time
3:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
S 2 to 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
89°F
Athens, IL
128 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
4 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
4h 48m 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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 167.7
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 96% of the route on interstates and major roads. You'll experience a very long stretch of 236.9 miles on I 55 before transitioning to State Route 140 and College Avenue for the final leg. Expect a high number of exits and potential for merging traffic as you navigate the interstate system for most of the trip.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 236.9 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and State Route 140. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 48m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.6 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
749 ft545 ft
Total Climb
299 ft
Total Descent
456 ft
Highest Point
749 ft
~109.7 mi in
Elevation Range
204 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 Upper Alton, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Greenville.
The longest stretch is about 236.9 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.6 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Upper Alton, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
