Traveling from Naperville to Atwood covers 179 miles through the heart of the Midwest, typically requiring about 3 hours and 29 minutes of travel time. Given the manageable duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a one-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $27 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly option for a weekend outing. The route utilizes a mix of local roads like East Ogden Avenue and larger thoroughfares such as I-355 and the Veterans Memorial Tollway to navigate out of the suburbs. Whether you are heading south for business or a change of scenery, this straightforward drive provides a reliable connection between these two Illinois communities.
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
89.5 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
124.3 mi
2h 14m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
19.2 mi
21m
I 80
10.6 mi
12m
County Road 950 North
8.8 mi
12m
US 45
8 mi
11m
East Ogden Avenue
5 mi
10m
Main Street
0.6 mi
<1m
North Washington Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 124.3 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Naperville, IL and Atwood, 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
124 mi·2 hr 14 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 220Toward US 45: Tolono, Pesotum, Tuscola
10
Turn straight onto US 45
8.0 mi·11 min·US 45
11
Turn right
0.2 mi·30 sec
12
Turn straight onto US 36
8.8 mi·12 min·County Road 950 North
13
Turn right onto Main Street
0.6 mi·59 sec·Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Planning for a single stop during your 179-mile trek will keep you refreshed and help manage the turn-heavy nature of the local roads. Since the drive takes nearly three and a half hours, departing early in the morning allows you to avoid peak suburban congestion around the Naperville area. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, keeping in mind the $27 estimated cost, and top off before leaving major intersections to ensure a smooth ride. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of flexibility to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions or personal preference. Prioritize checking your navigation app before you pull out of the driveway to account for any real-time adjustments needed on the local road segments.
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 89.5 miles from Naperville, IL, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.3 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 39 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.5 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 Atwood, 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 179 miles and 3h 29m.
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 124.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 161.2 — 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
161.2 mi into trip|~3h 3m in
Take the exit toward US 45: Tolono, Pesotum, Tuscola
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 220
Toward US 45: Tolono, Pesotum, Tuscola
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.98 one way
$55.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.73
$61.45
premium
$4.89
$34.45
$68.89
diesel
$5.61
$39.52
$79.04
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: 62.6 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
53.7
0
$18.79
$8.59
Efficient EV
44.8
0
$15.66
$7.16
EV Truck/SUV
71.6
0
$25.06
$11.46
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
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Atwood, IL
Late night
in Atwood on Tuesday
Local time
3:09 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 29m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate away from the Naperville area before transitioning onto the interstate system. Because this route involves a significant amount of local road travel, you will find it requires more active attention than a standard, monotonous highway cruise. With a 0% highway share for the local segments, the character of the road shifts as you leave the suburban density behind. You should anticipate a dynamic driving experience where the pace fluctuates as you move from city streets onto larger tollways. Stay alert, as the winding nature of the initial segments contrasts sharply with the more direct stretches you will encounter further into your trip.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 124.3 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 10 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 179 miles you will encounter 10 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Naperville, IL and Atwood, IL, road signs point toward Pesotum and Tuscola.
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 3h 29m. Total distance: 179 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 124.3 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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Atwood, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
