Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Wheaton, IL to Lawrenceville, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 48m
Distance
282.2 mi
454 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 36m
★
6 AM
5h 49m
8 AM
6h 15m
10 AM
5h 58m
12 PM
5h 55m
3 PM
5h 59m
5 PM
6h 14m
8 PM
5h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wheaton, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Lawrenceville, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Wheaton, IL to Lawrenceville, IL is 282.2 miles and takes about 5h 48m via I 57 and US 50, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With over 70% of the drive on highways, expect a relatively straightforward path with limited surface street navigation. It's a manageable distance for a single day, making it a good option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points.
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
141.1 miles from Wheaton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 154.8 mi | 2h 46m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 19.4 mi | 22m |
| US 50 | 18.7 mi | 25m |
| North 1250th Street | 13.3 mi | 19m |
| South Van Buren Street | 11 mi | 15m |
| I 80 | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Route 130 | 10 mi | 14m |
| County Road 1100 East | 6.7 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 154.8 mi, about 2h 46m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~928 veh/hr typical · worst 1,278
Quietest
2 AM
~107 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 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 Lawrenceville, 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
155 mi
·
2 hr 46 min
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 190A
Toward IL 16 East: Charleston
17
Turn straight onto IL 16
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Charleston Avenue East
18
Continue on IL 16
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Illinois Route 16
19
Continue on IL 16
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
20
Turn right onto IL 130
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
18th Street
21
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Illinois Route 130
22
Continue on IL 130
10.0 mi
·
14 min
·
Route 130
23
Continue on IL 130
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 1825 East
24
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 1775 E
25
Continue on IL 130
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Haughton Highway
26
Continue on IL 130
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
1700E
27
Continue on IL 130
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
North Haughton Highway
28
Continue on IL 130
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
County Road 1700E
29
Continue on IL 130
13 mi
·
19 min
·
North 1250th Street
30
Turn left onto IL 130
11 mi
·
15 min
·
South Van Buren Street
31
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road 1100 East
32
Continue on IL 130
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North West Street
33
Turn left onto West Butler Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Butler Street
34
Turn right onto North Lincoln Avenue
481 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Lincoln Avenue
35
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
36
Turn left onto US 50; IL 250
19 mi
·
25 min
·
US 50; IL 250
37
Take the exit onto US 50 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 50 Business
38
Continue on US 50 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
39
Arrive at destination
US 50 Business
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 48m drive, consider an early morning departure from Wheaton to avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a total distance of 282.2 miles, you could easily complete it in one day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, one stop is recommended. The longest stretch on I 57 is over 150 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to US 50, as services can become less frequent in rural areas.
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 141.1 miles from Wheaton, IL, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.8 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 62 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.1 miles or 2h 42m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawrenceville, 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 282.2 miles and 5h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 154.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
141 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 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 141.1 miles from Wheaton, 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 154.8 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.
Main Line Station Rest Area - Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Illini Prairie Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Illini Prairie Rest Area - Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Main Line Station Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Prairie View Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Prairie View Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Peotone Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.4 mi from route
Red Rooster Terminal
1.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.4 mi from route
Greater Chicago Truck Plaza
1.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
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 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
$47.07 one way
$94.15 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $51.16 | $102.33 |
| premium | $5.26 | $58.43 | $116.86 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $68.65 | $137.30 |
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
$47
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.7 | 1 | $29.63 | $13.55 |
| Efficient EV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.69 | $11.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.9 | 1 | $39.51 | $18.06 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Wheaton, IL
Morning in Wheaton on Sunday
Local time
6:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Patchy Frost
N 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:24AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:22AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Lawrenceville, IL
Morning in Lawrenceville on Sunday
Local time
6:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Clear
N 12 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:24AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:22AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 48m 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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 38.9
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?
You'll spend a solid 71% of this 282.2-mile trip on highways, primarily I 57. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 154.8 miles, so you'll have plenty of uninterrupted driving. Surface roads, like US 50, will likely become more prominent towards the end of your trip. Expect a good number of exits and potential for merging traffic as you navigate through various Illinois towns and cities.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154.8 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Veterans Memorial Tollway. 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
9/10
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 282.2 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
777 ft
466 ft
Total Climb
136 ft
Total Descent
425 ft
Highest Point
777 ft
~121 mi in
Elevation Range
311 ft
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 Lawrenceville, IL
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Lawrence County Courthouse — courthouse in Lawrence County, 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 48m. Total distance: 282.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 154.8 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 24 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 Lawrenceville, 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 24 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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lawrenceville, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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