Origin
Wheaton, IL
Night in Wheaton on Friday
Local time
9:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wheaton, IL to Grant Park, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 38m
Distance
71 mi
114 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 31m
★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 44m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 53m
8 PM
1h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wheaton, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Grant Park, IL
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
Wheaton to Grant Park is 71 miles and takes about 1 hour 38 minutes via North Wheaton Avenue, West Front Street, and South Main Street, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the same region. Since it's entirely on surface roads and under two hours, it's a straightforward trip perfect for a single day. Plan for a simple commute rather than a scenic expedition.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.5 miles from Wheaton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 19.4 mi | 22m |
| I 80 | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| I 57 | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| South Will Center Road | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| West County Line Road | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| County Road East 1241 North | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| South Naperville Road | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 19.4 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wheaton, IL and Grant Park, 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: Chicago
Use 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 131
Toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
Use 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 0A
Toward 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 151A
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
15
Merge onto I 57
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 335
Toward Monee, Manhattan
17
Turn left onto CH 6; CH 21
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Monee Manhattan Road
18
Turn right onto South Egyptian Trail
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Egyptian Trail
19
Enter roundabout onto West Court Street
142 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Court Street
20
Continue on West Court Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Court Street
21
Turn right onto CH 10
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
South Will Center Road
22
At end of road, turn left onto CH 58
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
West County Line Road
23
Continue on CH 58
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East 12000N Road
24
Turn sharp right onto IL 1
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road East 1241 North
25
Turn right onto IL 1; IL 17
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Taylor Street
26
Turn right onto Maple Street
27 ft
·
1 sec
·
Maple Street
27
Arrive at destination
Maple Street
Trip Plan
With a total travel time of under two hours, this route offers great flexibility for departure. You can easily leave in the morning and be at your destination by lunchtime, or depart after lunch and arrive before dinner. Since there are no official stops recommended and the drive is short, you can decide on breaks as needed, perhaps stopping for a quick refreshment in a town along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $11, and it's always wise to refuel before you're running on empty, especially on surface roads where gas stations might be less frequent than on highways.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.5 miles from Wheaton, IL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.4 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.5 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grant Park, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wheaton, IL
This is one driving day of about 71 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Wheaton, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Tollway for about 19.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.5 miles from Wheaton, 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 225 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
$11.01 one way
$22.02 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $12.07 | $24.14 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.78 | $27.55 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $15.65 | $31.30 |
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
$11
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.21 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.94 | $4.54 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Grant Park, IL
Night in Grant Park on Friday
Local time
9:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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 38m 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.
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 41.6
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 71-mile trip is entirely on surface roads, meaning you won't encounter any highway driving. Expect to navigate through towns and local areas for the entire duration of your drive. The absence of a longest stretch indicates a consistent pace without extended periods of highway cruising.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.4 mi on Veterans Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.2 miles in near West Front Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71 miles you will encounter 22 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
789 ft
686 ft
Total Climb
170 ft
Total Descent
224 ft
Highest Point
789 ft
~50.7 mi in
Elevation Range
103 ft
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.
Between Wheaton, IL and Grant Park, IL, road signs point toward Monee and Manhattan.
Monee
49.8 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Manhattan
49.8 mi in
|
~1h 5m
About the Cities
Starting in Wheaton, IL
Full guide →Founded 1831
Wheaton is a suburban city of 53,000 people (2019) in Chicagoland.
Top landmarks
- • Old DuPage County Courthouse — former courthouse in Wheaton, Illinois
- • Trinity Episcopal Church — church building in Wheaton, United States of America
Arriving in Grant Park, IL
Full guide →Founded 1883
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 38m. Total distance: 71 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.4 miles on Veterans Memorial Tollway. 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.
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 Grant Park, 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 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Grant Park, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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