Naperville to Preemption is 152.8 miles and takes about 2 hours 58 minutes via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. You'll primarily be on surface roads after an initial stretch on the tollway. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive between two points in the same state, with a manageable duration and cost.
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
76.4 miles from Naperville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
80.4 mi
1h 27m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38.9 mi
41m
IL 5
13.2 mi
19m
1st Street West
8.1 mi
12m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
5.4 mi
5m
Milan Beltway
3.8 mi
4m
Mill Street
1.1 mi
2m
West Diehl Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 80.4 mi, about 1h 27m
Traffic on I-88
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~599 veh/hr typical
· worst 901
Quietest
2 AM
~75 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 78 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 Preemption, IL.
1
Start on North Washington Street
50 ft·5 sec·North Washington Street
2
Turn right onto US 34
0.4 mi·45 sec·West Ogden Avenue
3
Turn right onto Mill Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Mill Street
4
Turn left onto West Diehl Road
0.6 mi·1 min·West Diehl Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto Winfield Road
0.4 mi·59 sec·Winfield Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 88 West: AuroraUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
11 mi·12 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalbUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 88; IL 110
1.1 mi·1 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
10
Continue on I 88; IL 110
38 mi·40 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Exit 41
11
Continue on I 88; IL 92; IL 110
5.4 mi·5 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
12
Continue on IL 5; IL 92
13 mi·19 min·IL 5; IL 92
13
Continue on Milan Beltway
3.8 mi·4 min·Milan Beltway
14
Turn left onto US 67
8.1 mi·12 min·1st Street West
15
Arrive at destination
US 67
Trip Plan
For this less-than-three-hour drive, leaving Naperville in the morning or early afternoon should give you plenty of time. With only one recommended stop and the majority of the trip on surface roads, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially with an estimated cost of $24; it’s wise to top off before leaving Naperville to ensure you have enough for the entire 152.8 miles. The transition from the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway to IL 5 marks a significant change in driving environment, so be prepared for slower speeds and more local traffic.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.4 miles from Naperville, IL, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.4 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 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.4 miles or 1h 26m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Preemption, 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 152.8 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 80.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway reset
2.6 mi from route
~6 min detour
$10 to $20
Sterling, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–1 pm
+18155905472
The Speakeasy at La Bella Notte
5.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Rock Falls, Illinois
Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm
+18157168559
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 13.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 34 / West Ogden Avenue
Turn right onto US 34 / West Ogden Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|West Diehl Road
Turn left onto West Diehl Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.5 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 88 West: Aurora
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 88 West: Aurora
5
2.9 mi into trip|~6m 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.
8
13.9 mi into trip|~19m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.69 one way
$47.38 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$25.98
$51.95
premium
$4.93
$29.65
$59.29
diesel
$5.60
$33.68
$67.36
Estimated Tolls: $4.83
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(80.4 mi)$4.83
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
$24
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.8
0
$16.04
$7.33
Efficient EV
38.2
0
$13.37
$6.11
EV Truck/SUV
61.1
0
$21.39
$9.78
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Aug 30, 2026
Origin
Naperville, IL
Evening
in Naperville on Saturday
Local time
8:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Preemption, IL
Evening
in Preemption on Saturday
Local time
8:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 to 15 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
64°F
Geneseo, IL
76 mi in
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
2h 58m 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.
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?
About 12% of this 152.8-mile route is on highways. The longest continuous highway segment you'll encounter is 80.4 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. After this, you'll transition to surface roads, which make up the majority of the drive. Expect a change from high-speed travel to more typical local road conditions as you approach your destination.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.4 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 34 / West Ogden Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 58m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 34 / West Ogden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (West Diehl Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: 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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.4 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.83 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 7 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.
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 / West Ogden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (West Diehl Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: 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 Preemption, IL before heading back.
