Origin
Naperville, IL
Late night in Naperville on Friday
Local time
4:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Naperville, IL to Benton, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 45m
Distance
310.6 mi
500 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 32m
★
6 AM
5h 45m
8 AM
6h 12m
10 AM
5h 54m
12 PM
5h 52m
3 PM
5h 56m
5 PM
6h 10m
8 PM
5h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Naperville, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Benton, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Naperville, IL to Benton, IL covers 310.6 miles and takes about 5h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, Veterans Memorial Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 252.4 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
155.3 miles from Naperville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 252.4 mi | 4h 32m |
| Ken Gray Expressway | 20 mi | 21m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 19.2 mi | 21m |
| I 80 | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| East Ogden Avenue | 5 mi | 10m |
| West Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Public Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Washington Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 252.4 mi, about 4h 32m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,001 veh/hr typical · worst 1,389
Quietest
2 AM
~168 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 99 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Naperville, IL and Benton, 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: Joliet
Use 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 0A
Toward 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 151A
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
8
Merge onto I 57
187 mi
·
3 hr 21 min
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward IL 14: Christopher, Benton
12
Turn left onto IL 14
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
13
Enter roundabout onto IL 14; IL 37
349 ft
·
5 sec
·
Public Square
14
Arrive at destination
IL 14; IL 37
Trip Plan
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 155.3 miles from Naperville, IL, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 252.4 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 68 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.3 miles or 2h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, 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 310.6 miles and 5h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 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 252.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
155 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 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 155.3 miles from Naperville, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 252.4 miles.
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 0 and 25.7 — 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
5
25.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.16 one way
$96.31 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
109 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $52.80 | $105.60 |
| premium | $4.93 | $60.26 | $120.52 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $68.47 | $136.93 |
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
$48
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.2 | 1 | $32.61 | $14.91 |
| Efficient EV | 77.7 | 0 | $27.18 | $12.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.2 | 1 | $43.48 | $19.88 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Benton, IL
Late night in Benton on Friday
Local time
4:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
5h 45m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
310.6 mi in 5h 45m, mostly highway — 252.4 mi of that is on I 57.
91% 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: 252.4 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 34 / East Ogden Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 310.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
765 ft
473 ft
Total Climb
139 ft
Total Descent
376 ft
Highest Point
765 ft
~44.4 mi in
Elevation Range
292 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Naperville, IL
Full guide →Founded 1890
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.
Arriving in Benton, IL
Full guide →Founded 1841
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 5h 45m. Total distance: 310.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 252.4 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.
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 Benton, 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: 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Benton, IL before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Benton, IL
More trips to Benton, IL
Explore more options from Naperville, IL or browse trips ending in Benton, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.