Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Chicago, IL to Wheaton, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

46m

Distance

28.4 mi

46 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 43m ★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown chicago-il

Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

city and county seat of DuPage County, Illinois, United States

Wheaton, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Chicago to Wheaton covers 28.4 miles and typically takes about 46 minutes, making it a straightforward day trip within the Midwest. You will navigate a mix of the Eisenhower Expressway, the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, and East Roosevelt Road to complete the journey. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this trip is highly budget-friendly and requires no overnight stops. Expect a transition from the dense urban environment of Chicago into the suburban landscape of Wheaton. It is an efficient route that serves as a practical link between the city and the western suburbs.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Eisenhower Expressway 12.1 mi 16m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 6.2 mi 7m
East Roosevelt Road 3.4 mi 7m
South Ashland Avenue 1.7 mi 3m
Veterans Memorial Tollway 0.9 mi 1m
West Cermak Road 0.8 mi 1m
Butterfield Road 0.6 mi 1m
South Main Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Eisenhower Expressway — 12.1 mi, about 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Wheaton, IL.

1

Start on this road

0.2 mi · 1 min · this road
2

At end of road, turn left onto West Cermak Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Cermak Road
3

Turn right onto South Ashland Avenue

1.7 mi · 3 min · South Ashland Avenue
4

Turn left onto West Van Buren Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · West Van Buren Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
5

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Toward I 290 West
6

Merge onto I 290; IL 110

12 mi · 16 min · Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110

1.9 mi · 2 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 15A Toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, Indiana Use the slight left lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110

4.4 mi · 5 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138 Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road) Use the slight right lane.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Exit 134 Toward Highland Avenue Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn right onto Highland Avenue

300 ft · 9 sec · Highland Avenue
Use the right lane.
11

Turn slight left

0.3 mi · 51 sec
Toward IL 56 West Use the left lane.
12

Turn straight onto IL 56

0.6 mi · 1 min · Butterfield Road
Use the left lane.
13

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs Use the right lane.
14

Merge onto I 355

0.9 mi · 1 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 57 sec
Exit 24 Toward IL 38: Roosevelt Road Use the slight right lane.
16

Keep slight left at fork

389 ft · 11 sec
Toward IL 38: Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton Use the left lane.
17

Turn left onto IL 38

3.4 mi · 7 min · East Roosevelt Road
18

Turn right onto South Main Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
19

At end of road, turn left onto West Wesley Street

102 ft · 2 sec · West Wesley Street
20

Arrive at destination

West Wesley Street

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 15 and 24.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
15 mi into trip | ~23m in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, Indiana

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 15A Toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora...
8
16.9 mi into trip | ~26m in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 138 Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
7
21.3 mi into trip | ~31m in

Take the exit toward Highland Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 134 Toward Highland Avenue
7
24 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward IL 38: Roosevelt Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 24 Toward IL 38: Roosevelt Road
8
24.4 mi into trip | ~37m in

Keep slight left at fork toward IL 38: Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward IL 38: Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, Wheat...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.44 one way

$8.88 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $4.87 $9.75
premium $4.89 $5.47 $10.93
diesel $5.61 $6.27 $12.54

Estimated Tolls: $0.44

Reagan Memorial Tollway (6.2 mi) $0.37
Veterans Memorial Tollway (0.9 mi) $0.07

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Tolls

$0

Total

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.5 0 $2.98 $1.36
Efficient EV 7.1 0 $2.49 $1.14
EV Truck/SUV 11.4 0 $3.98 $1.82

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Chicago, IL

Late night in Chicago on Sunday

Local time

2:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

WSW 15 mph 98% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:33AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Wheaton, IL

Late night in Wheaton on Sunday

Local time

2:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°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

25 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

46m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This 28.4-mile trek features a mixed driving profile, with highways accounting for 43% of the total distance. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch on the Eisenhower Expressway, which spans 12.1 miles before the road conditions shift. The character of the drive evolves as you move from high-speed expressway lanes into the more frequent intersections and local traffic patterns of East Roosevelt Road. While the first portion of the trip is defined by the pace of major regional arteries, the final leg requires a more attentive driving style as you approach your destination.

43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.1 mi on Eisenhower Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15 miles in near I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 28.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 15 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

763 ft 588 ft

Total Climb

250 ft

Total Descent

83 ft

Highest Point

763 ft

~22.3 mi in

Elevation Range

175 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Chicago, IL and Wheaton, IL, road signs point toward Indiana, 22Nd Street (Cermak Road) and Glen Ellyn.

Indiana

15 mi in | ~23m | via I 88; IL 110

22Nd Street (Cermak Road)

16.9 mi in | ~26m | via I 88; IL 110

Glen Ellyn

24.4 mi in | ~37m

About the Cities

Starting in Chicago, IL

Full guide →

Chicago is the home of the blues and the truth of jazz, the heart of comedy and the idea of the skyscraper. Here, the age of railroads found its center, and airplanes followed suit. "Stormy, Husky, Brawling / City of Big Shoulders," Chicago is a Heartland boomtown, its ethos defined by urban planner Daniel Burnham's immortal vision: "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." It is one of the world's great cities and the third largest city in the United States, behind only New York City and Los Angeles. As the hub of the Midwest, Chicago is easy to find — its picturesque skyline calls across the waters of Lake Michigan, a first impression that soon reveals world-class museums of art and science, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks and public art, and perhaps the finest downtown collection of modern architecture in the world.

Top landmarks

  • • Willis Tower — skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois
  • • Art Institute of Chicago — art museum and school in Chicago, United States
  • • Wrigley Field — baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, USA; home venue of the Chicago Cubs

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 46m. Total distance: 28.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 12.1 miles on Eisenhower Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.44 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan 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 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 15 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.3 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 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Wheaton, IL

Campton, IL 327.2 mi · 6h 31m Glen Carbon, IL 265.2 mi · 5h 5m Edwardsville, IL 260.9 mi · 5h Chrisman, IL 202.6 mi · 4h 1m

More from Chicago, IL

Crainville, IL 321.6 mi · 5h 59m Burton, IL 313.7 mi · 5h 57m Johnston City, IL 311.4 mi · 5h 46m Quincy, IL 309.6 mi · 5h 53m Adams, IL 299.3 mi · 5h 54m Sesser, IL 298.8 mi · 5h 34m

More trips to Wheaton, IL

Clear Lake, IL 183.9 mi Peoria, IL 151.3 mi Watseka, IL 93.9 mi Zion, IL 56.7 mi Greenwood, IL 46.5 mi Chicago Heights, IL 43.5 mi
Escape planner: Chicago, IL Scenic drives in IL

Explore more options from Chicago, IL or browse trips ending in Wheaton, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.