Naperville to Waverly is 208.1 miles and takes about 4h 3m via I 55 and IL 104, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region from start to finish. Given its relatively short duration and predominantly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a practical option for a quick trip or an extension of another journey.
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
104.1 miles from Naperville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
181.2 mi
3h 16m
IL 104
16.3 mi
24m
North Washington Street
5.3 mi
11m
Weber Road
3.9 mi
7m
Washington Street
0.5 mi
<1m
South Pearl Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East State Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 181.2 mi, about 3h 16m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,743 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,333
Quietest
2 AM
~157 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Waverly, IL.
1
Start on North Washington Street
5.3 mi·11 min·North Washington Street
Use the left lane.
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.5 mi·51 sec·Washington Street
3
Continue on Weber Road
3.9 mi·7 min·Weber Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
5
Merge onto I 55
106 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 55
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
11 mi·11 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·51 sec
Toward IL 104: Pawnee, Auburn
9
Turn right onto IL 104
16 mi·24 min·IL 104
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto South Pearl Street
399 ft·19 sec·South Pearl Street
11
Turn right onto East State Street
145 ft·6 sec·East State Street
12
Arrive at destination
East State Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a drive that can easily be completed in under 4.5 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning should allow you to avoid rush hour traffic around Naperville and still arrive with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch on I 55 is over 180 miles, so plan for a fuel and rest stop before you hit that segment, perhaps around Bloomington-Normal. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition to IL 104 and North Washington Street, as services might be less frequent in those final miles.
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 104.1 miles from Naperville, IL, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.2 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 46 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.1 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waverly, 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 208.1 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 55 for about 181.2 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 10 and 191.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10 mi into trip|~20m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
5
180.7 mi into trip|~3h 26m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
191.2 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Take the exit toward IL 104: Pawnee, Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 104: Pawnee, Auburn
5
191.7 mi into trip|~3h 38m in|IL 104
Turn right onto IL 104
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.71 one way
$69.43 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$37.73
$75.46
premium
$5.26
$43.09
$86.17
diesel
$6.18
$50.62
$101.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.4
0
$21.85
$9.99
Efficient EV
52
0
$18.21
$8.32
EV Truck/SUV
83.2
1
$29.13
$13.32
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Naperville, IL
Morning
in Naperville on Monday
Local time
8:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Waverly, IL
Morning
in Waverly on Monday
Local time
8:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
S 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
76°F
Bloomington, IL
104 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 3m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 179.4
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...
27 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 7.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 95% highway, meaning you'll be on I 55 for the vast majority of the 208.1 miles. The longest stretch without needing to exit is a significant 181.2 miles on I 55. You'll transition to surface roads, specifically IL 104 and then North Washington Street, for the final portion of the trip. Expect a steady cruising speed for most of the drive, with a noticeable shift to local roads as you approach Waverly.
95% 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: 181.2 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and IL 104. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10 miles in near I 55.
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 208.1 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: at 10 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 180.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
795 ft521 ft
Total Climb
426 ft
Total Descent
453 ft
Highest Point
795 ft
~104.1 mi in
Elevation Range
274 ft
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 Waverly, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Auburn.
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 4h 3m. Total distance: 208.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 181.2 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 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: at 10 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 180.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Waverly, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
