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Trip from Prospect Heights, IL to Naperville, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

47m

Distance

32.6 mi

52 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 44m ★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Prospect Heights, IL, IL

Prospect Heights, IL

Mike Tyurin

Trip Overview

This 32.6-mile drive from Prospect Heights, IL to Naperville, IL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 47 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-355 and IL-53, the route is focused on highway travel, making it an ideal one-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $5, this is an economical option for a quick journey within the Midwest region. The predominantly highway profile means you'll experience efficient travel, suitable for those who prefer to cover distance quickly. Given its short duration, this route is perfect for a spontaneous trip or a dedicated errand run without the need for an overnight stay.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 355 12.8 mi 16m
IL 53 10.2 mi 13m
East Ogden Avenue 5 mi 10m
East Rand Road 1.5 mi 2m
Palatine Road 1.4 mi 1m
West Camp McDonald Road 0.9 mi 1m
North Washington Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 355 — 12.8 mi, about 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Prospect Heights, IL and Naperville, IL.

1

Start on West Camp McDonald Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Camp McDonald Road
2

Turn right onto US 12

1.5 mi · 2 min · East Rand Road
Use the right lane.
3

Turn left onto Palatine Road

1.4 mi · 1 min · Palatine Road
4

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward IL 53 South
5

Merge onto IL 53

3.2 mi · 4 min · IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53

7.0 mi · 9 min · IL 53
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 355

13 mi · 16 min · I 355
Exit 7 Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet Use the slight left lane.
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Exit 19 Toward US 34: Ogden Avenue Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn right

154 ft · 5 sec
Toward Lisle Use the right lane.
10

Turn straight onto US 34

5.0 mi · 10 min · East Ogden Avenue
11

Turn right onto North Washington Street

50 ft · 1 sec · North Washington Street
12

Arrive at destination

North Washington Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in DuPage County, Illinois, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Glen Ellyn, IL

16 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

Warrenville, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Itasca, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.3 miles from Prospect Heights, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 27.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
4 mi into trip | ~6m in | IL 53

Merge onto IL 53

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
7.3 mi into trip | ~11m in | IL 53

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
8
14.3 mi into trip | ~20m in | I 355

Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 7 Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
7
27.1 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward US 34: Ogden Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 19 Toward US 34: Ogden Avenue
6
27.6 mi into trip | ~37m in

Turn right toward Lisle

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward Lisle

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.10 one way

$10.19 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $5.60 $11.19
premium $4.89 $6.27 $12.55
diesel $5.61 $7.20 $14.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.8 0 $3.42 $1.56
Efficient EV 8.2 0 $2.85 $1.30
EV Truck/SUV 13 0 $4.56 $2.09

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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

Prospect Heights, IL

Morning in Prospect Heights on Tuesday

Local time

7:18 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Naperville, IL

Morning in Naperville on Tuesday

Local time

7:18 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

47m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for approximately 71% of this journey. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-355, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 12.8 miles. While IL-53 and East Ogden Avenue will offer some variation, the overall character leans towards efficient, faster-paced travel. The road predominantly consists of multi-lane highways designed for steady movement. This profile suggests a drive where you'll primarily be navigating traffic flow on main arteries, with fewer opportunities for leisurely cruising on smaller local roads.

71% 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: 12.8 mi on I 355.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 355 and IL 53. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in near IL 53.

Driving Effort 8/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 32.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (IL 53): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

On the drive from Prospect Heights, IL to Naperville, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Lisle along the way.

Lisle

27.6 mi in | ~37m

About the Cities

Starting in Prospect Heights, IL

Full guide →

Arriving in Naperville, IL

Full guide →

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.

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 47m. Total distance: 32.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 12.8 miles on I 355. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Naperville, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (IL 53): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Naperville, IL before heading back.

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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