Origin
Vernon Hills, IL
Afternoon in Vernon Hills on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vernon Hills, 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
59m
Distance
39.4 mi
63 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vernon Hills, IL
Chris Flaten
Trip Overview
This straightforward 39.4-mile drive from Vernon Hills to Naperville, Illinois, is easily manageable in under an hour, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate via IL 53 and I-355, with a portion on East Ogden Avenue. With an estimated fuel cost of around $6, this route is quite economical for a quick excursion within the Midwest. The drive offers a direct and efficient path, ideal for those looking for a simple transit between these two Illinois communities without the need for an overnight stay. It’s a practical option for a local journey, focusing on getting you to your destination efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 53 | 13.9 mi | 18m |
| I 355 | 12.8 mi | 16m |
| East Ogden Avenue | 5 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 83 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Lake Cook Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Arlington Heights Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Westmoreland Drive | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| IL RT 83 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
IL 53
— 13.9 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vernon Hills, IL and Naperville, IL.
1
Start on Oakwood Road
35 ft
·
3 sec
·
Oakwood Road
2
Turn right onto Westmoreland Drive
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Westmoreland Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto IL 83
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
IL RT 83
4
Continue on IL 83
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 83
5
Continue on IL 83
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
McHenry Road
6
Turn right onto Arlington Heights Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Arlington Heights Road
7
Turn right onto Lake Cook Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Cook Road
8
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 53
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
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.
10
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.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 19
Toward US 34: Ogden Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right
154 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Lisle
Use the right lane.
13
Turn straight onto US 34
5.0 mi
·
10 min
·
East Ogden Avenue
14
Turn right onto North Washington Street
50 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Washington Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from Vernon Hills, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 7.2 and 34.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
14.1 mi into trip
|
~22m 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
21.1 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
33.9 mi into trip
|
~47m 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
34.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Turn right toward Lisle
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Lisle
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.16 one way
$12.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.76 | $13.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.58 | $15.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.70 | $17.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Naperville, IL
Afternoon in Naperville on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
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
6 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
59m 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 experience for about 76% of this journey. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 13.9 miles on IL 53, allowing for consistent progress. The route transitions between major arteries like IL 53 and I-355, providing a mix of controlled-access highway driving. While not designed for scenic vistas, this profile ensures a predictable and relatively swift transit. The road character remains largely consistent, prioritizing direct travel over winding paths.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.9 mi on IL 53.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 53 and I 355. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.2 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 10 decision points packed into just 39.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.2 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.1 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.
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 Vernon Hills, IL to Naperville, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Lisle along the way.
Lisle
34.4 mi in
|
~48m
About the Cities
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 59m. Total distance: 39.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.9 miles on IL 53. 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 7.2 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.1 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Naperville, IL
More from Vernon Hills, IL
More trips to Naperville, IL
Explore more options from Vernon Hills, IL or browse trips ending in Naperville, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.