This 92.8-mile drive from Forreston, IL to Naperville, IL takes about 1 hour and 57 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily travel on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and I-39, with a portion on IL 72, navigating through the Midwest's familiar landscape. With an estimated fuel cost of $15, this route is quite economical for a single day's excursion. There are no planned stops, suggesting a straightforward journey. Given its manageable length and duration, this trip is ideal for a quick getaway or a practical commute.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.4 miles from Forreston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
46.3 mi
51m
IL 72
27.3 mi
40m
I 39
13.6 mi
14m
West Blackhawk Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Mill Street
1.1 mi
2m
West Diehl Road
0.7 mi
1m
East Main Street
0.5 mi
<1m
South Union Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 46.3 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forreston, IL and Naperville, IL.
1
Start on IL 26
16 ft·7 sec·1st Avenue
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.5 mi·43 sec·East Main Street
3
Continue on IL 72
15 mi·22 min·IL 72
4
At end of road, turn left onto IL 2; IL 72
1.3 mi·2 min·West Blackhawk Drive
5
Turn right onto IL 72
0.4 mi·42 sec·South Union Street
6
Turn left onto IL 72
12 mi·18 min·IL 72
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
8
Merge onto I 39; US 51
14 mi·14 min·I 39; US 51
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 97AToward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
10
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
46 mi·51 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 125Toward Winfield RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Winfield Road
0.2 mi·26 sec·Winfield Road
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto West Diehl Road
0.7 mi·1 min·West Diehl Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Mill Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Mill Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto US 34
0.4 mi·48 sec·West Ogden Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto North Washington Street
50 ft·1 sec·North Washington Street
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
North Washington Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1 hour and 57-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility. Departing Forreston, IL, consider an early morning start to avoid any potential commuter traffic as you approach Naperville, IL. The estimated fuel cost of $15 means you likely won't need to worry much about refueling. Since there are no designated stops, plan for a quick break if needed during the 46.3-mile stretch on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. Keep an eye out for signs directing you between I-39 and the tollway for a smooth transition.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.4 miles from Forreston, IL, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.3 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 20 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.4 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 36m
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 Forreston, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Forreston, IL
This is one driving day of about 92.8 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Forreston, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 46.3 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 43.5 and 92.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
43.5 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 97A
Toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
5
43.9 mi into trip|~1h in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
90.2 mi into trip|~1h 52m 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
91.4 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|Mill Street
Turn right onto Mill Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
92.4 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|US 34 / West Ogden Avenue
Turn left onto US 34 / West Ogden Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.51 one way
$29.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.93
$31.86
premium
$4.89
$17.86
$35.72
diesel
$5.61
$20.49
$40.98
Estimated Tolls: $2.78
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(46.3 mi)$2.78
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.8
0
$9.74
$4.45
Efficient EV
23.2
0
$8.12
$3.71
EV Truck/SUV
37.1
0
$12.99
$5.94
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 20, 2026
Origin
Forreston, IL
Late night
in Forreston on Tuesday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Naperville, IL
Late night
in Naperville on Tuesday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 57m 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.
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 92.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed driving experience, with 44% of it on highways. You'll encounter some stretches on IL 72 and I-39, but the longest uninterrupted segment is 46.3 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. This suggests a good balance between faster, more direct travel and potentially more local road sections. Expect a drive that generally flows well, with the highway portions providing efficient progress, while other segments might offer a slightly different pace as you move through the Illinois terrain.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.3 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 43.5 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 92.8 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 43.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 43.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 57m. Total distance: 92.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). 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 46.3 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.78 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.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
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 43.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 43.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.2 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 Naperville, IL before heading back.
