Woodridge, IL to Marion, IL is 321.9 miles and takes about 5h 53m via I 57, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traveling south through the Midwest. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive, perfect for a single-day excursion when you want to get from point A to point B efficiently. Expect a predictable route with minimal complexity, ideal for those prioritizing speed and ease of navigation.
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
161 miles from Woodridge, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
252.4 mi
4h 32m
Ken Gray Expressway
38.7 mi
41m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
15.1 mi
16m
I 80
10.6 mi
12m
West Main Street
1.5 mi
2m
75th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Woodridge Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
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 Woodridge, IL and Marion, IL.
1
Start on Woodridge Drive
0.2 mi·46 sec·Woodridge Drive
2
Turn right onto 75th Street
0.8 mi·1 min·75th Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 355 Toll South: JolietUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 355
15 mi·16 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 0AToward I 80 East: Indiana
6
Merge onto I 80
11 mi·12 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 151AToward I 57 South: Memphis
8
Merge onto I 57
187 mi·3 hr 21 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 57
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
39 mi·41 min·Ken Gray Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward Marion
12
Keep slight left at fork
117 ft·8 sec
13
Turn left onto West Main Street
1.5 mi·2 min·West Main Street
14
Turn right
80 ft·11 sec
15
Turn left
151 ft·11 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 53m duration, leaving Woodridge in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a 252.4-mile stretch on I 57, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Plan your fuel stops strategically, as the estimated cost is $51; it's wise to fill up before departing or when you see stations along I 57. The most significant stretch is on I 57, so be sure you're comfortable with extended highway driving before you set out.
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 161 miles from Woodridge, IL, or about 2h 58m 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 71 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161 miles or 2h 58m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marion, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Woodridge, 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 Woodridge, IL
This is one driving day of about 321.9 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Woodridge, 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.
Final third
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
$20 to $30
Effingham, Illinois
Hours: 6–10 am
+12175407716
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 28.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
16.5 mi into trip|~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
5
17.7 mi into trip|~22m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
28.3 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 57 South: Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 151A
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.70 one way
$107.39 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$58.36
$116.72
premium
$5.26
$66.65
$133.30
diesel
$6.18
$78.31
$156.62
Estimated Tolls: $1.06
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(15.1 mi)$1.06
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
$54
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.6
1
$33.80
$15.45
Efficient EV
80.5
0
$28.17
$12.88
EV Truck/SUV
128.8
1
$45.07
$20.60
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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
Woodridge, IL
Late night
in Woodridge on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Marion, IL
Late night
in Marion on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Bruce, IL
161 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
3 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 53m 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...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 33.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 94% of the 321.9 miles on major roads like I 57. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 252.4 miles on I 57, meaning you can settle in for a significant portion of the trip. The transition to surface roads, if any, will occur closer to your destination after the extensive highway cruising. Be prepared for the consistent flow of traffic typical of major interstates.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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?
7/10
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 1 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 321.9 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Marion is a city in Southern Illinois. Named in honor of Francis Marion and settled in 1839, Marion isn't exactly replete with places to see but has forests and recreational areas nearby.
Top landmarks
•Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center — hospital in Marion, Illinois, United States
•Williamson County Jail — former county jail in Marion, Illinois
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 53m. Total distance: 321.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 $1.06 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 Marion, 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Marion, IL before the return drive.
