Main Line Station Rest Area - Northbound
0 mi from route
Trip from Vernon, IL to Niles, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 4m
Distance
268.4 mi
432 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 51m
★
6 AM
5h 4m
8 AM
5h 31m
10 AM
5h 14m
12 PM
5h 11m
3 PM
5h 15m
5 PM
5h 30m
8 PM
4h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vernon, IL
Mike Tyurin
Niles, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Vernon, IL to Niles, IL is 268.4 miles and takes about 5h 4m via I 57 and Interstate 70, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a predominantly highway experience, making it a straightforward transit between these two points. Given the relatively short duration, it's a manageable one-day drive for most travelers.
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
134.2 miles from Vernon, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 195.2 mi | 3h 34m |
| Interstate 70 | 35 mi | 38m |
| US 51 | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| North Caldwell Avenue | 3 mi | 4m |
| Edens Expressway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 195.2 mi, about 3h 34m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,241 veh/hr typical · worst 1,621
Quietest
2 AM
~245 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 49 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 Vernon, IL and Niles, IL.
1
Start on this road
122 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West Broadway Street
147 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto US 51
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 51
4
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 40; US 51; IL 185
5
Turn right onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kennedy Boulevard
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I-70 East: Effingham
7
Merge onto I 70
35 mi
·
38 min
·
Interstate 70
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
195 mi
·
3 hr 34 min
·
I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 94
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 41A
Toward US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn slight right onto US 14
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Caldwell Avenue
15
Turn left onto West Howard Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Howard Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto North Waukegan Road
14 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Waukegan Road
17
Arrive at destination
North Waukegan Road
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Niles, IL. With only one recommended stop and a 195.2-mile stretch on I 57, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer highway segments, as services can be spaced out. The $41 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to factor in a little extra for unexpected needs.
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 134.2 miles from Vernon, IL, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195.2 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 59 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.2 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Niles, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Vernon, 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 Vernon, IL
This is one driving day of about 268.4 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Vernon, 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 57 for about 195.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
134 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 134.2 miles from Vernon, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 195.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Illini Prairie Rest Area - Northbound
0 mi from route
Main Line Station Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Illini Prairie Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Prairie View Rest Area - Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Prairie View Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Green Creek Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Green Creek Rest Area - Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
National Trail Rest Area - Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Road Angel Truckers Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
National Trail Rest Area - Eastbound
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Peotone Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Truckomat Truck Wash - Effingham
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 267.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Broadway Street
Turn right onto West Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
7
47.7 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
246.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 32m in
|
I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing 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 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
7
264.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 57m in
Take the exit toward US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41A
Toward US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue
6
267.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 2m in
|
West Howard Street
Turn left onto West Howard Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.95 one way
$81.89 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $45.10 | $90.20 |
| premium | $4.81 | $50.78 | $101.57 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $57.09 | $114.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.5 | 0 | $28.18 | $12.88 |
| Efficient EV | 67.1 | 0 | $23.48 | $10.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.4 | 1 | $37.58 | $17.18 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Vernon, IL
Evening in Vernon on Saturday
Local time
6:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Niles, IL
Evening in Niles on Saturday
Local time
6:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
N 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:36PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 9:32PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
1 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
5h 4m 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.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 240.6
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 98% of the drive on major interstates. You'll encounter a long stretch of 195.2 miles on I 57, so be prepared for extended cruising. The transition to surface roads will likely be near the end of your drive. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach your destination.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 195.2 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Interstate 70. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Broadway Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 268.4 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.7 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 246.3 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Niles, IL
Full guide →Niles is a city of 30,912 (2020) in Illinois.
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 5h 4m. Total distance: 268.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 195.2 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 35 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.
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 Niles, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.7 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 246.3 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Niles, IL before the return drive.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. 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
More trips to Niles, IL
Explore more options from Vernon, IL or browse trips ending in Niles, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.