Origin
Hinckley, IL
Afternoon in Hinckley on Sunday
Local time
4:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hinckley, IL to Wheeling, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
60.8 mi
98 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hinckley, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Wheeling, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hinckley to Wheeling is 60.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 22 minutes via IL 56 and Veterans Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region toward a more suburban area. It's a relatively short trip, making it suitable for a single day. You'll likely find it a straightforward connection between two points, with much of the route on major roads. Consider this if you need a direct path without extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 56 | 22.7 mi | 28m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 10.6 mi | 13m |
| East Lincoln Avenue | 10.2 mi | 15m |
| I 290 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| IL 53 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Palatine Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| South Elmhurst Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Elmhurst Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
IL 56
— 22.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hinckley, IL and Wheeling, IL.
1
Start on South Sycamore Street
41 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Sycamore Street
2
Turn right onto US 30
10 mi
·
15 min
·
East Lincoln Avenue
3
Continue on IL 56
23 mi
·
28 min
·
IL 56
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 132
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 355
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward East Palatine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto Palatine Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Palatine Road
10
Take the exit
377 ft
·
10 sec
11
Turn straight onto East Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
East Frontage Road
12
Turn left onto IL 83
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Elmhurst Road
13
Continue on IL 83
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Elmhurst Road
14
Turn right onto IL 68
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Dundee Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
Railroad Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Railroad Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.4 miles from Hinckley, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 32.9 and 54.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
32.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 132
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
5
33.6 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
44.2 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
I 290
Merge onto I 290
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
49.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
54.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward East Palatine Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward East Palatine Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.28 one way
$18.55 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $10.22 | $20.43 |
| premium | $4.81 | $11.50 | $23.01 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $12.93 | $25.87 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(10.6 mi)
$0.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.51 | $3.89 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Wheeling, IL
Afternoon in Wheeling on Sunday
Local time
4:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 11:09AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 11:09AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
17 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 22m 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 drive is about 55% highway, meaning you'll spend a significant portion on faster-paced roads. You'll encounter a stretch of 22.7 miles on IL 56 before transitioning to other routes. Expect to navigate merging traffic as you enter more developed areas. The profile is mixed highway and surface roads, so be prepared for a change in speed and road type.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.7 mi on IL 56.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 32.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.8 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 32.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.2 miles (I 290): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Hinckley, IL
Full guide →Arriving in Wheeling, IL
Full guide →Wheeling is a village in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. It is home to about 39,000 people (census, 1 April 2020) .
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 22m. Total distance: 60.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). 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 22.7 miles on IL 56. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.74 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans 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 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Wheeling, 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 32.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.2 miles (I 290): 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 Wheeling, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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