This drive from Carthage, IL, to Naperville, IL, covers 245.5 miles and takes approximately 4 hours and 41 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip through the Midwest, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. You can expect to spend around $37 on fuel for this route. The primary roads you'll be on include IL 110 and US 136, with a significant 96% of the drive being on highways. This route offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these two Illinois locations 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
122.8 miles from Carthage, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IL 110
125 mi
2h 16m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
108.1 mi
2h 2m
US 136
3.8 mi
7m
North Lafayette Street
1.6 mi
2m
East 1200th Street
1.2 mi
1m
Mill Street
1.1 mi
2m
Buchanan Street
0.8 mi
1m
South Monmouth Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
IL 110
— 125 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carthage, IL and Naperville, IL.
1
Start on IL 94
62 ft·6 sec·North Madison Street
2
Turn left onto US 136; IL 94
0.8 mi·1 min·Buchanan Street
3
Continue on US 136; IL 94
0.6 mi·51 sec·E County Road 1500
4
Take the ramp
84 ft·3 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto US 136
0.4 mi·52 sec·US 136
6
Merge onto US 136; IL 110; IL 336
21 mi·24 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·55 sec
8
Turn right onto US 136
3.4 mi·6 min·US 136
9
Turn left onto US 136
0.1 mi·16 sec·North Johnson Street
10
Turn slight right onto US 136
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Calhoun Street
11
Turn left onto US 67
1.6 mi·2 min·North Lafayette Street
12
Continue on US 67
1.2 mi·1 min·East 1200th Street
13
Continue on US 67; IL 110
3.4 mi·4 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
14
Continue on US 67; IL 110
0.7 mi·1 min·South Monmouth Street
15
Continue on US 67; IL 110
45 mi·52 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110
32 mi·34 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
17
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110
6.3 mi·6 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
18
Take the exit onto IL 110
125 mi·2 hr 16 min·IL 110
Exit 4BToward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 125Toward Winfield RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto Winfield Road
0.2 mi·26 sec·Winfield Road
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto West Diehl Road
0.7 mi·1 min·West Diehl Road
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Mill Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Mill Street
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto US 34
0.4 mi·48 sec·West Ogden Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto North Washington Street
50 ft·1 sec·North Washington Street
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
North Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 41-minute duration, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to give yourself plenty of daylight and flexibility. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of about $37, planning is straightforward. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 125 miles on IL 110, as services can sometimes be more spread out on expressways. The 96% highway share means you'll likely find plenty of official rest areas or service plazas along the way.
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 122.8 miles from Carthage, IL, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125 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 54 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.8 miles or 2h 25m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Naperville, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carthage, 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 Carthage, IL
This is one driving day of about 245.5 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Carthage, 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 IL 110 for about 125 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
$10 to $20
Sterling, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–1 pm
+18155905472
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 79.6 and 244.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
79.6 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
5
111.6 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway toward I 80 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
8
117.9 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|IL 110
Take the exit onto IL 110 toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
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 4B
Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Fa...
7
242.9 mi into trip|~4h 35m in
Take the exit toward Winfield Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 125
Toward Winfield Road
6
244.1 mi into trip|~4h 38m in|Mill Street
Turn right onto Mill Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.38 one way
$76.76 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$42.14
$84.28
premium
$4.89
$47.24
$94.49
diesel
$5.61
$54.20
$108.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.6
0
$25.78
$11.78
Efficient EV
61.4
0
$21.48
$9.82
EV Truck/SUV
98.2
1
$34.37
$15.71
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Carthage, IL
Late night
in Carthage on Tuesday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Naperville, IL
Late night
in Naperville on Tuesday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Knoxville, IL
123 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
1 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 41m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, with 96% of the 245.5-mile journey taking place on faster roads. The Chicago-Kansas City Expressway (part of IL 110) will be your main companion for a significant portion of the drive, featuring a longest uninterrupted stretch of 125 miles. This means you'll encounter fewer turns and more consistent speeds, allowing for a steady pace. While the majority is highway, the initial and final segments might involve navigating some local roads as you enter and exit the main expressways.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125 mi on IL 110.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 110 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 79.6 miles in near IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 245.5 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 79.6 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111.6 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 117.9 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
901 ft584 ft
Total Climb
474 ft
Total Descent
435 ft
Highest Point
901 ft
~210.4 mi in
Elevation Range
317 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Carthage, IL and Naperville, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island and Rock Falls.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 41m. Total distance: 245.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 125 miles on IL 110. 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.
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 Naperville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 79.6 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111.6 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 117.9 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Naperville, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
