Origin
Chicago Heights, IL
Late night in Chicago Heights on Tuesday
Local time
3:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chicago Heights, IL to Wheaton, 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
1h 7m
Distance
43.5 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago Heights, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Wheaton, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Chicago Heights to Wheaton, expect a straightforward journey spanning approximately 43.5 miles. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 7 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will navigate a mix of thoroughfares, including the Tri-State Tollway, South Halsted Street, and Roosevelt Road. With a modest fuel budget of around $7, this trip is highly economical and requires no overnight stay. Because both locations are situated within the Midwest, you will remain in a familiar regional landscape throughout your transit. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 27.3 mi | 33m |
| Roosevelt Road | 9.7 mi | 19m |
| South Halsted Street | 5 mi | 10m |
| South Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Wesley Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 27.3 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago Heights, IL and Wheaton, IL.
1
Start on South Halsted Street
19 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Halsted Street
2
Continue on South Halsted Street
5.0 mi
·
10 min
·
South Halsted Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Tri-State Tollway, Iowa, Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Iowa, Wisconsin
5
Merge onto I 80; I 294
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 30B
Toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto IL 38
9.7 mi
·
19 min
·
Roosevelt Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
12
At end of road, turn left onto West Wesley Street
102 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Wesley Street
13
Arrive at destination
West Wesley Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Chicago Heights, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 5 and 33 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Tri-State Tollway, Iowa, Wisconsin
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Tri-State Tollwa...
6
5.3 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Iowa, Wisconsin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Iowa, Wisconsin
6
7.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
32.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
33 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 30B
Toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.80 one way
$13.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.47 | $14.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.37 | $16.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.60 | $19.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.63
Tri-state Tollway
(27.3 mi)
$1.63
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.81 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.09 | $2.78 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Wheaton, IL
Late night in Wheaton on Tuesday
Local time
3:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 7m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will spend a portion of your time on the Tri-State Tollway—covering a longest stretch of 27.3 miles—the remainder of the journey involves navigating local roads. Since the highway share is 0% in terms of pure interstate travel, you will need to remain attentive through various turns and intersections. The transition from the more industrial feel of the starting area to the character of the destination makes for a dynamic driving experience. Be prepared to shift your pace as you move off the tollway and onto local streets like Roosevelt Road.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.3 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.5 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
758 ft
599 ft
Total Climb
201 ft
Total Descent
106 ft
Highest Point
758 ft
~40.4 mi in
Elevation Range
159 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chicago Heights, IL and Wheaton, IL, road signs point toward Iowa and Wisconsin.
Iowa
5 mi in
|
~10m
Wisconsin
5 mi in
|
~10m
About the Cities
Starting in Chicago Heights, IL
Full guide →Founded 1893
Chicago Heights is a city of 29,000 people (2019) in the Chicagoland region of Illinois. Chicago Heights remains one of the most dangerous cities in Illinois, with rampant poverty and high levels of violent crime.
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 1h 7m. Total distance: 43.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m 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 27.3 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.63 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state 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 Wheaton, 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 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wheaton, 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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