Naperville, IL to Arcola, IL is 178.7 miles and takes about 3h 23m via I-57 and I-80, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region on a straightforward highway-focused path. Expect a relatively quick trip with minimal fuss, ideal for a single-day journey. The primary roads are well-maintained interstates, making for predictable travel times and an easy navigation experience. This route is a practical choice for those seeking efficient transit between these two points.
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
89.3 miles from Naperville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
140.6 mi
2h 31m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
19.2 mi
21m
I 80
10.6 mi
12m
East Ogden Avenue
5 mi
10m
East Springfield Road
0.7 mi
1m
South Locust Street
0.3 mi
1m
North Washington Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Locust Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 140.6 mi, about 2h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Naperville, IL and Arcola, IL.
1
Start on North Washington Street
50 ft·9 sec·North Washington Street
2
Turn left onto US 34
5.0 mi·10 min·East Ogden Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 355 Toll South: JolietUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 355
19 mi·21 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 0AToward I 80 East: Indiana
6
Merge onto I 80
11 mi·12 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 151AToward I 57 South: Memphis
8
Merge onto I 57
141 mi·2 hr 31 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Exit 203Toward IL 133: Arcola, Paris
10
Turn right onto IL 133
0.7 mi·1 min·East Springfield Road
11
Turn right onto South Locust Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South Locust Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Locust Street
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 3h 23m duration, starting your trip in Naperville any time in the morning will get you to Arcola with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated around $28, this trip is quite economical and doesn't require extensive planning. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on I-57 is quite substantial, so topping up before that segment is a good idea. The efficiency of this route means you can be flexible with your departure time and still have a relaxed drive.
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 89.3 miles from Naperville, IL, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.6 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 39 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.3 miles or 1h 45m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arcola, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Naperville, 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 Naperville, IL
This is one driving day of about 178.7 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Naperville, 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 57 for about 140.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 177.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 34 / East Ogden Avenue
Turn left onto US 34 / East Ogden Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
5
5.2 mi into trip|~10m 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.
6
24.4 mi into trip|~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
6
177.4 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward IL 133: Arcola, Paris
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 203
Toward IL 133: Arcola, Paris
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.94 one way
$55.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.67
$61.35
premium
$4.89
$34.39
$68.78
diesel
$5.61
$39.45
$78.91
Estimated Tolls: $1.34
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(19.2 mi)$1.34
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
$28
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.6
0
$18.76
$8.58
Efficient EV
44.7
0
$15.64
$7.15
EV Truck/SUV
71.5
0
$25.02
$11.44
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Naperville, IL
Late night
in Naperville on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arcola, IL
Late night
in Arcola on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
3 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
3h 23m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-57, including a continuous stretch of 140.6 miles, which offers a smooth and rapid transit. The Veterans Memorial Tollway and I-80 also contribute to the high-speed nature of this trip, meaning you'll encounter consistent, fast-moving traffic for most of the journey. While primarily interstate, the road offers a consistent driving experience without many abrupt changes, allowing for a steady pace.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 140.6 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Veterans Memorial Tollway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 34 / East Ogden Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 178.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (US 34 / East Ogden Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
Arcola is a city in the Central Illinois region of Illinois with about 2,900 residents in 2020. Visitors will get a sense of small-town Midwest as they walk or drive down the streets of Arcola. The countryside surrounding the city houses the largest Amish population in Illinois with many small shops operated by Amish craftsmen in and around the area.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 178.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 140.6 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.34 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 34 / East Ogden Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Arcola, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
