Wheaton to Carterville is 339.1 miles and takes about 6h 19m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, primarily Illinois, offering a straightforward trip between two points in the state. With 89% of the route on highways, expect a consistent pace for most of the 6-hour drive. This is a solid one-day trip if you're looking to cover ground efficiently without needing an overnight stay. It's a practical option for moving between northern and southern Illinois.
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
169.5 miles from Wheaton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
252.4 mi
4h 32m
Ken Gray Expressway
37.4 mi
40m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
19.4 mi
22m
I 80
10.6 mi
12m
South Naperville Road
3.9 mi
7m
West Deyoung Street
3.4 mi
4m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
3.1 mi
3m
IL-13
3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 252.4 mi, about 4h 32m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,073 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,461
Quietest
2 AM
~180 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 99 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 Wheaton, IL and Carterville, IL.
1
Start on West Wesley Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Wesley Street
2
Turn left onto North Wheaton Avenue
467 ft·28 sec·North Wheaton Avenue
3
Turn left onto West Front Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Front Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto IL 38
0.2 mi·25 sec·East Roosevelt Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto South Naperville Road
3.9 mi·7 min·South Naperville Road
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 88 Toll East: ChicagoUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
3.1 mi·3 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 131Toward I 355 Toll South: JolietUse the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 355 South: JolietUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 355
19 mi·22 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 0AToward I 80 East: Indiana
13
Merge onto I 80
11 mi·12 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 151AToward I 57 South: Memphis
15
Merge onto I 57
187 mi·3 hr 21 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
37 mi·40 min·Ken Gray Expressway
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale
21
Merge onto IL 13
3.4 mi·4 min·West Deyoung Street
22
Continue on IL 13
3.0 mi·4 min·IL-13
23
Turn right onto South Division Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South Division Street
24
Turn left onto West Grand Avenue
35 ft·0 sec·West Grand Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
West Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 19m estimated drive time, leaving Wheaton in the morning should allow you to reach Carterville within daylight hours, even with a brief stop. The longest stretch without a significant town is 252.4 miles on I 57, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly before embarking on that segment. The $52 fuel cost is an estimate, so keeping an eye on gas prices as you travel is wise. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have flexibility to depart later if needed, but an earlier start will provide a more relaxed pace.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 169.5 miles from Wheaton, IL, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 252.4 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 75 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 169.5 miles or 3h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carterville, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wheaton, 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 Wheaton, IL
This is one driving day of about 339.1 miles and 6h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Wheaton, 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 252.4 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 8.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West Front Street
Turn left onto West Front Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|IL 38 / East Roosevelt Road
Turn left onto IL 38 / East Roosevelt Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
8.3 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 131
Toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
7
8.6 mi into trip|~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 355 South: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.57 one way
$113.13 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$61.48
$122.96
premium
$5.26
$70.21
$140.42
diesel
$6.18
$82.49
$164.98
Estimated Tolls: $1.54
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(19.4 mi)$1.36
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(3.1 mi)$0.18
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.7
1
$35.61
$16.28
Efficient EV
84.8
0
$29.67
$13.56
EV Truck/SUV
135.6
1
$47.47
$21.70
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Wheaton, IL
Morning
in Wheaton on Tuesday
Local time
11:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Carterville, IL
Morning
in Carterville on Tuesday
Local time
11:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Bruce, IL
170 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
5 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
6h 19m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 35.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is almost entirely highway cruising, with 89% of the 339.1 miles on major roads like I 57. You'll experience the longest continuous stretch of highway at 252.4 miles on I 57, meaning extended periods of consistent speed. The transition to surface streets will happen as you approach your destination in Carterville, marking the end of the high-speed segment. Expect a moderate number of exits along the main highway corridor.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 252.4 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Front Street.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 339.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Front Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (IL 38 / East Roosevelt Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 19m. Total distance: 339.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 19m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 252.4 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.54 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.
Yes — we found about 43 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 Carterville, 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 43 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Front Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (IL 38 / East Roosevelt Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Carterville, IL before the return drive.
