Wheaton, IL to Rosiclare, IL is 376.5 miles and takes about 7h 24m via I 57 and East Main Street, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, primarily within Illinois, and is best suited for a single-day drive. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a straightforward journey. Plan for about two stops along the way to break up the nearly 7.5 hours of driving. This route is a practical option for getting from the Chicago suburbs downstate.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
188.2 miles from Wheaton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
252.4 mi
4h 32m
East Main Street
31.7 mi
47m
Ken Gray Expressway
20 mi
21m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
19.4 mi
22m
IL 34
19 mi
28m
I 80
10.6 mi
12m
Highway 145
5.9 mi
9m
South Naperville Road
3.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 252.4 mi, about 4h 32m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,001 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,389
Quietest
2 AM
~168 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 Rosiclare, 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
20 mi·21 min·Ken Gray Expressway
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward IL 14: Christopher, Benton
19
Turn left onto IL 14
0.9 mi·1 min·West Main Street
20
Enter roundabout onto IL 34
377 ft·8 sec·East Main Street
21
Continue on IL 34
32 mi·47 min·East Main Street
22
Turn left onto IL 13; IL 34
0.6 mi·50 sec·IL 13; IL 34
23
Turn right onto US 45; IL 34
1.2 mi·1 min·North Commercial Street
24
Turn left onto IL 34; IL 145
5.9 mi·9 min·Highway 145
25
Turn left onto IL 34
17 mi·24 min·IL 34
26
Turn left onto IL 34; IL 146
3.5 mi·4 min·IL 34; IL 146
27
Continue on IL 34
2.1 mi·3 min·IL 34
28
Turn left onto Hopkinton Street
23 ft·0 sec·Hopkinton Street
29
Arrive at destination
Hopkinton Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 24m estimated duration, leaving Wheaton, IL in the morning should allow you to reach Rosiclare, IL before dark. With 376.5 miles to cover, consider making your two planned stops around the halfway point or spaced evenly to keep you refreshed. The majority of your drive will be on I 57, so keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach the final leg off the interstate. The estimated fuel cost of $58 is a good baseline for budgeting your expenses. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have flexibility in your departure time.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 188.2 miles from Wheaton, IL, or about 3h 33m 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 83 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.2 miles or 3h 33m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rosiclare, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wheaton, IL
This is one driving day of about 376.5 miles and 7h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Wheaton, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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.
First break
4.2 mi from route
~11 min detour
$10 to $20
Homer Glen, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+17083012353
Green Creek Rest Area - Southbound
0 mi from route
Post Oak Rest Area - Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Post Oak Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Main Line Station Rest Area - Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Illini Prairie Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Rend Lake Rest Area (I57-SB)
0.1 mi from route
Illini Prairie Rest Area - Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Rend Lake Rest Area - Northbound
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
Main Line Station Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
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
Truckomat Truck Wash - Effingham
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Flying J 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
Pilot Travel Center
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.6 mi from route
Greater Chicago Truck Plaza
1.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
2 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.2 mi from route
Crepe N Brew
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
Inexpensiv
New Lenox, Illinois
Hours: 2–9 pm
+18157178097
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 23
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
$62.80 one way
$125.61 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$68.26
$136.52
premium
$5.26
$77.95
$155.91
diesel
$6.18
$91.59
$183.18
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
$63
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113
1
$39.53
$18.07
Efficient EV
94.1
1
$32.94
$15.06
EV Truck/SUV
150.6
1
$52.71
$24.10
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Wheaton, IL
Late night
in Wheaton on Tuesday
Local time
4:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rosiclare, IL
Late night
in Rosiclare on Tuesday
Local time
4:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
SSW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
50°F
Brownstown, IL
188 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
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
7h 24m 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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 38.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for 83% of this 376.5-mile trip, primarily cruising along I 57. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 252.4 miles on I 57. After that, you'll transition to surface streets like East Main Street and Ken Gray Expressway closer to your destination. Expect a predominantly highway driving experience with frequent exits on I 57.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 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 East Main Street. 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 23 significant decision points across 376.5 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
758 ft351 ft
Total Climb
197 ft
Total Descent
601 ft
Highest Point
758 ft
~134.4 mi in
Elevation Range
407 ft
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 Wheaton, IL to Rosiclare, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Benton along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 24m. Total distance: 376.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 24m 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 41 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 Rosiclare, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 41 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 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rosiclare, IL before the return drive.
