Origin
South Chicago Heights, IL
Morning in South Chicago Heights on Sunday
Local time
9:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Chicago Heights, IL to Naperville, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
46.1 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Chicago Heights, IL
John Hill
Trip Overview
This 46.1-mile drive from South Chicago Heights, IL to Naperville, IL is designed for a single day trip, taking about 1 hour and 7 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily via Veterans Memorial Tollway and I-80, with a portion on Vollmer Road. With a projected fuel cost of around $7, this Midwest journey offers a practical way to travel between two Illinois communities. Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, suggesting frequent navigation adjustments rather than a straightforward cruise. This route is best suited for those looking for an efficient, no-frills transit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 19.2 mi | 21m |
| I 80 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Vollmer Road | 6.9 mi | 12m |
| East Ogden Avenue | 5.1 mi | 10m |
| Chicago Road | 2 mi | 5m |
| Harlem Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Dixie Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Washington Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 19.2 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Chicago Heights, IL and Naperville, IL.
1
Start on West Sauk Trail
28 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Sauk Trail
2
Turn left onto IL 1
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Chicago Road
3
Turn left onto Dixie Highway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Dixie Highway
4
Keep slight left at fork onto CH B66
6.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Vollmer Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn right onto IL 43
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Harlem Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 80 West: Joliet
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 80
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 140
Toward I 355 Toll North: Rockford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 355
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 20B
Toward US 34: Ogden Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
76 ft
·
4 sec
Toward US 34: Lisle
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto US 34
5.1 mi
·
10 min
·
East Ogden Avenue
13
Turn right onto North Washington Street
50 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Washington Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23 miles from South Chicago 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 40.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
CH B66 / Vollmer Road
Keep slight left at fork onto CH B66 / Vollmer Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
12.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West: Joliet
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Joliet
7
20.7 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll North: Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 140
Toward I 355 Toll North: Rockford
7
40.6 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward US 34: Ogden Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 20B
Toward US 34: Ogden Avenue
8
40.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 34: Lisle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 34: Lisle
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.21 one way
$14.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.91 | $15.83 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.87 | $17.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.35
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(19.2 mi)
$1.35
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Naperville, IL
Morning in Naperville on Sunday
Local time
9:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
20 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
1h 7m 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?
The character of this drive is best described as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll experience a dynamic route rather than a monotonous interstate stretch. While 18% of the journey involves highway driving, the majority will be on local roads requiring more frequent turns. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 19.2 miles on the Veterans Memorial Tollway, offering a brief period of higher-speed travel. As you progress, expect the road to transition between faster tollway sections and more involved local street navigation.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.2 mi on Veterans Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in near CH B66 / Vollmer Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 3.5 miles (CH B66 / Vollmer Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in South Chicago 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 1h 7m. Total distance: 46.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.2 miles on Veterans Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.35 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.
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 3.5 miles (CH B66 / Vollmer Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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