Colchester, IL to Naperville, IL is 225.3 miles and takes about 4h 17m via IL 110, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within the Midwest, offering a straightforward drive across Illinois. With 94% of the route on highways, expect a predominantly high-speed experience. This is a practical, one-day option for getting from point A to point B efficiently, with minimal fuss.
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
112.7 miles from Colchester, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IL 110
125 mi
2h 16m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
86.9 mi
1h 38m
West Jackson Street
6.2 mi
10m
North Lafayette Street
1.6 mi
2m
East 1200th Street
1.2 mi
1m
Mill Street
1.1 mi
2m
South Monmouth Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Diehl Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
IL 110
— 125 mi, about 2h 16m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~862 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,082
Quietest
2 AM
~96 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 34 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, IL and Naperville, IL.
1
Start on US 136
436 ft·7 sec·East North Street
2
Continue on US 136
0.6 mi·50 sec·Macomb Street
3
Continue on US 136
6.2 mi·10 min·West Jackson Street
4
Turn left onto US 136
0.1 mi·16 sec·North Johnson Street
5
Turn slight right onto US 136
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Calhoun Street
6
Turn left onto US 67
1.6 mi·2 min·North Lafayette Street
7
Continue on US 67
1.2 mi·1 min·East 1200th Street
8
Continue on US 67; IL 110
3.4 mi·4 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9
Continue on US 67; IL 110
0.7 mi·1 min·South Monmouth Street
10
Continue on US 67; IL 110
45 mi·52 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 110
32 mi·34 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
12
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110
6.3 mi·6 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
13
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.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 125Toward Winfield RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto Winfield Road
0.2 mi·26 sec·Winfield Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto West Diehl Road
0.7 mi·1 min·West Diehl Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Mill Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Mill Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto US 34
0.4 mi·48 sec·West Ogden Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto North Washington Street
50 ft·1 sec·North Washington Street
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
North Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given this route takes just over 4 hours, leaving in the morning is ideal to avoid any late-day fatigue. You'll only need one stop, so plan it strategically around the halfway point, perhaps after completing the 125-mile stretch on IL 110. The fuel cost is estimated at $40, so ensure your tank is full before departing Colchester. Since it's a single-day drive, you have flexibility to depart a bit later if needed, but keep an eye on traffic as you get closer to the Chicago metropolitan area.
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 112.7 miles from Colchester, IL, or about 2h 12m 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 50 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.7 miles or 2h 12m 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 30m
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 Colchester, 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 Colchester, IL
This is one driving day of about 225.3 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Colchester, 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.
Halfway reset
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$10 to $20
Hampton, Illinois
Hours: 10 am–1 pm
+13097553077
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 59.4 and 223.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
59.4 mi into trip|~1h 14m 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
91.4 mi into trip|~1h 49m 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
97.7 mi into trip|~1h 56m 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
222.6 mi into trip|~4h 12m 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
223.9 mi into trip|~4h 14m in|Mill Street
Turn right onto Mill Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.27 one way
$66.54 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$36.73
$73.46
premium
$4.72
$41.83
$83.66
diesel
$4.80
$42.54
$85.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.6
0
$23.66
$10.81
Efficient EV
56.3
0
$19.71
$9.01
EV Truck/SUV
90.1
1
$31.54
$14.42
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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 Jul 20, 2026
Origin
Colchester, IL
Evening
in Colchester on Monday
Local time
7:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Patchy Smoke then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 20 at 11:25AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 20 at 10:45AM CDT until July 20 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Naperville, IL
Evening
in Naperville on Monday
Local time
7:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Smoke
SSW 10 to 15 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 20 at 11:25AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 20 at 10:45AM CDT until July 20 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
5 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 17m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
28 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 225.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 94% of this 225.3-mile trip being high-speed driving. The longest continuous stretch on a highway, IL 110, spans 125 miles. Expect a clear transition from highway cruising to surface streets as you approach Naperville, likely marked by an increase in intersections and local traffic. The initial part of the drive features a significant portion on the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 110 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 59.4 miles in near IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 225.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 59.4 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.4 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 97.7 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
890 ft568 ft
Total Climb
454 ft
Total Descent
442 ft
Highest Point
890 ft
~193.1 mi in
Elevation Range
322 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Colchester, 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 17m. Total distance: 225.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 59.4 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.4 miles (IL 110 / Chicago-Kansas City Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 97.7 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Naperville, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
