Origin
Braidwood, IL
Morning in Braidwood on Tuesday
Local time
8:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Braidwood, IL to Naperville, 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
55m
Distance
38.8 mi
62 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 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Braidwood, IL
Engin Akyurt
Trip Overview
This straightforward 38.8-mile drive from Braidwood to Naperville, Illinois, is easily manageable in about 55 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll spend a significant portion, around 63%, on the highway, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being 24.5 miles on I 55. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is approximately $6, which is quite budget-friendly. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get between two points within the Midwest region without needing an overnight stay. The overall feel is practical and focused on reaching your destination efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 24.5 mi | 27m |
| South Washington Street | 5.3 mi | 11m |
| Weber Road | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| North Washington Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Washington Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 24.5 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Braidwood, IL and Naperville, IL.
1
Start on this road
200 ft
·
19 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto IL 129
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
North Washington Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
4
Merge onto I 55
25 mi
·
27 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 263
Toward Weber Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
233 ft
·
7 sec
Use the left lane.
7
Turn straight onto CH 88
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Weber Road
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Washington Street
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on South Washington Street
5.3 mi
·
11 min
·
South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
10
Arrive at destination
North Washington Street
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 38.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.4 miles from Braidwood, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 28.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 129 / North Washington Street
At end of road, turn left onto IL 129 / North Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
28.6 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward Weber Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 263
Toward Weber Road
7
28.9 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
28.9 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
CH 88 / Weber Road
Turn straight onto CH 88 / Weber Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.07 one way
$12.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.66 | $13.32 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.47 | $14.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.57 | $17.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 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 | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
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
Naperville, IL
Morning in Naperville on Tuesday
Local time
8:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°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
55m 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 highway-focused experience on this route, with 63% of your travel time spent on faster roads. You'll primarily be navigating on I 55, South Washington Street, and Weber Road. The longest continuous segment you'll encounter is 24.5 miles on I 55, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. While not particularly winding or complex, the road primarily serves as a functional corridor, connecting you efficiently from point A to point B. The character remains largely consistent, emphasizing steady progress over scenic detours.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and South Washington Street. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 129 / North Washington Street.
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 38.8 miles you will encounter 6 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: near the start (IL 129 / North Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Naperville, IL
Full guide →Naperville is a bedroom community in the Chicagoland area. In 2008, Money magazine ranked Naperville third on its list of the 100 best places to live in the United States.
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 55m. Total distance: 38.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.5 miles on I 55. 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: near the start (IL 129 / North Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 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 Naperville, 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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