Origin
Bolingbrook, IL
Morning in Bolingbrook on Tuesday
Local time
8:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bolingbrook, IL to Wheeling, 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
53m
Distance
37.4 mi
60 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 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wheeling, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Navigating from Bolingbrook to Wheeling covers 37.4 miles, a quick journey that typically takes about 53 minutes. Given the short duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily utilize the Veterans Memorial Tollway, I-290, and IL-53 to complete the transit between these two Midwestern locations. With fuel costs estimated at just $6, it is an incredibly budget-friendly drive. Whether you are heading north for business or personal errands, the trip is straightforward and efficient.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| I 290 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| IL 53 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| North Bolingbrook Drive | 4.4 mi | 8m |
| Palatine Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Hobson Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| South Elmhurst Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Elmhurst Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 14.7 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bolingbrook, IL and Wheeling, IL.
1
Start on IL 53
43 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Bolingbrook Drive
2
Continue on IL 53
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
North Bolingbrook Drive
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Hobson Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Hobson Road
4
Continue on 63rd Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
63rd Street
5
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 355
15 mi
·
18 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward East Palatine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto Palatine Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Palatine Road
11
Take the exit
377 ft
·
10 sec
12
Turn straight onto East Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
East Frontage Road
13
Turn left onto IL 83
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Elmhurst Road
14
Continue on IL 83
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Elmhurst Road
15
Turn right onto IL 68
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Dundee Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
Railroad Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Railroad Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.7 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 31.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Turn left toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
5
6.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
20.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 290
Merge onto I 290
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
26.4 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
31.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward East Palatine Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward East Palatine Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.85 one way
$11.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.42 | $12.84 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.20 | $14.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.26 | $16.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.03
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(14.7 mi)
$1.03
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
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.27 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.24 | $2.39 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Wheeling, IL
Morning in Wheeling on Tuesday
Local time
8:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°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
20 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
53m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that balances highway speed with urban navigation. While 28% of your journey is spent on major highways, the remainder requires you to stay alert through more technical sections. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Veterans Memorial Tollway, spanning 14.7 miles of relatively consistent driving. The transition between these roads shifts the character of your commute, moving from the open feel of the tollway to the more complex, intersection-rich local environment as you approach Wheeling.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.7 mi on Veterans Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 5.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 37.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles (I 290): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
752 ft
651 ft
Total Climb
200 ft
Total Descent
251 ft
Highest Point
752 ft
~10.9 mi in
Elevation Range
101 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 37.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m 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 14.7 miles on Veterans Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.03 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.
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 Wheeling, 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 5.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles (I 290): 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 Wheeling, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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