Spanning 126.9 miles across the Illinois landscape, this trip from Empire to Naperville is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 17 minutes. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, making it a convenient option for travelers who prefer a direct route without the need for an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at approximately $19, it is an economical choice for your travel budget. The journey transitions you through the heart of the Midwest, moving from the rural character of Empire toward the suburban environment of Naperville. Because there are no mandatory stops required, you have the flexibility to power through the distance or break it up as you see fit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
63.4 miles from Empire, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
91.9 mi
1h 39m
I 74
9.1 mi
9m
Towanda Barnes Road
6.8 mi
10m
South Washington Street
5.3 mi
11m
Weber Road
4.1 mi
7m
Towanda-Barnes Road
3 mi
4m
US 150
2 mi
2m
East 150 North Road
1.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 91.9 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Empire, IL and Naperville, IL.
1
Start on East 150 North Road
1.1 mi·4 min·East 150 North Road
2
Turn left onto US 136
0.1 mi·13 sec·East 200 North Road
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 74 West: Bloomington
4
Merge onto I 74
9.1 mi·9 min·I 74
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward Downs
6
Turn right onto CR 27; CR 36
460 ft·11 sec·East 700 North Road
7
Continue on CR 27; CR 36
0.6 mi·1 min·South Seminary Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 150
2.0 mi·2 min·US 150
9
Turn right onto CR 29
6.8 mi·10 min·Towanda Barnes Road
10
Continue on CR 29
3.0 mi·4 min·Towanda-Barnes Road
11
Continue on CR 29
0.2 mi·40 sec·West Hely Street
12
Turn left onto CR 29
0.5 mi·1 min·South Jefferson Street
13
Continue on CR 29
0.1 mi·15 sec·North 1900 East Road
14
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 55 North: Joliet
15
Merge onto I 55
92 mi·1 hr 39 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 263Toward Weber RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
233 ft·7 sec
Use the left lane.
18
Turn straight onto CH 88
4.1 mi·7 min·Weber Road
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on Washington Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·Washington Street
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on South Washington Street
5.3 mi·11 min·South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
North Washington Street
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is key when dealing with a turn-heavy route, so aim to leave during daylight hours to ensure you have clear visibility for navigation. Since the trip is relatively short at just over two hours, you don't need an elaborate itinerary; however, keeping a steady pace is essential given the lack of long highway stretches to make up time. Make sure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave, as the $19 estimated cost is based on standard consumption and local road efficiency. My best advice for this specific trek is to double-check your GPS settings before starting, as the heavy reliance on local roads like East 200 North Road means missing a turn can significantly alter your arrival time.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.4 miles from Empire, IL, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.9 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 28 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.4 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
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 Empire, 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 Empire, IL
This is one driving day of about 126.7 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Empire, 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 I 55 for about 91.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 116.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.2 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Bloomington
Navigation decision point
Toward I 74 West: Bloomington
4
10.8 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward Downs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Downs
5
24.7 mi into trip|~38m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
116.5 mi into trip|~2h 18m 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
116.8 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.81 one way
$39.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.75
$43.50
premium
$4.89
$24.38
$48.76
diesel
$5.61
$27.97
$55.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38
0
$13.30
$6.08
Efficient EV
31.7
0
$11.09
$5.07
EV Truck/SUV
50.7
0
$17.74
$8.11
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Empire, IL
Late night
in Empire on Sunday
Local time
3:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Naperville, IL
Late night
in Naperville on Sunday
Local time
3:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:50AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:39AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
13 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
2h 39m 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.
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 118
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as this route relies on navigating roads like East 200 North Road, I-74 West, and the area near Downs. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel that requires your full attention on local intersections and turns. Interestingly, there is no significant highway stretch to zone out on, as the longest uninterrupted segment on East 200 North Road is 0 miles. The personality of this drive is defined by its technical nature, keeping you engaged with the changing road conditions as you progress toward your destination.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.9 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 74. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
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 126.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 24.7 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Empire, IL to Naperville, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Downs along the way.
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 2h 39m. Total distance: 126.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91.9 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 24.7 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
