Origin
Bolingbrook, IL
Morning in Bolingbrook on Saturday
Local time
8:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bolingbrook, IL to River Forest, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
24.5 mi
39 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
River Forest, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 24.5-mile drive from Bolingbrook, IL, to River Forest, IL, is a quick 39-minute trip that fits perfectly as a day trip within the Midwest. You'll primarily navigate via the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and the Eisenhower Expressway, with a smaller portion on North Bolingbrook Drive. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $4. Given its short distance and duration, this route offers a lot of flexibility for when you choose to depart and how you manage your time. It's a straightforward drive with minimal commitment, ideal for a quick relocation or a short errand.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 24.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this itinerary, with a highway share of about 18%. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.2 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. While there are some highway segments, the route incorporates more local road driving, meaning you'll experience varied speeds and more frequent intersections. This blend means you'll transition from faster highway travel to slower, more controlled local road conditions, requiring your attention to be adaptable throughout the journey.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 9.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 5.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 24.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Turn left toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
8
7.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 88 Toll: Aurora, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 20A
Toward I 88 Toll: Aurora, Chicago
7
8.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
6
12.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
22.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward Des Plaines Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21A
Toward Des Plaines Avenue
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 Bolingbrook, IL to River Forest, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Chicago
7.6 mi in
|
~13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| North Bolingbrook Drive | 4.4 mi | 8m |
| Eisenhower Expressway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Lathrop Avenue | 1.3 mi | 4m |
| Hobson Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Des Plaines Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 63rd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 9.2 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bolingbrook, IL and River Forest, IL.
1
Start on IL 53
43 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Bolingbrook Drive
2
Continue on IL 53
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
North Bolingbrook Drive
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Hobson Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Hobson Road
4
Continue on 63rd Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
63rd Street
5
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 355
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 20A
Toward I 88 Toll: Aurora, Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 21A
Toward Des Plaines Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Des Plaines Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Des Plaines Avenue
14
Turn left onto Madison Street
171 ft
·
5 sec
·
Madison Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto Lathrop Avenue
1.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Lathrop Avenue
16
Turn right onto Augusta Street
318 ft
·
10 sec
·
Augusta Street
17
Arrive at destination
Augusta Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.83 one way
$7.66 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.21 | $8.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.71 | $9.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.41 | $10.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.65
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(9.2 mi)
$0.55
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(1.5 mi)
$0.10
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.57 | $1.18 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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
River Forest, IL
Morning in River Forest on Saturday
Local time
8:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
39m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bolingbrook, IL to River Forest, IL covers 24.5 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, North Bolingbrook Drive, Eisenhower Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.3 miles from Bolingbrook, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.83 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 24.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Bolingbrook, IL to River Forest, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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