The drive from Bolingbrook, IL to Highland, IL covers 253.6 miles and takes about 4h 47m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, IL 4, IL 143 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 233.3 miles on I 55.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.65 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
126.8 miles from Bolingbrook, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 47m. Total distance: 253.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 4h 47m highway drive covering 253.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and IL 4. The longest continuous stretch is about 233.3 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 233.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and IL 4. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near I 55.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.6 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
5
175.5 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
5
234.4 mi into trip|~4h 15m in
Take the exit toward IL 4: Staunton, Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 4: Staunton, Lebanon
4
234.7 mi into trip|~4h 16m in|IL 4
Turn left onto IL 4
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bolingbrook, IL and Highland, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Lebanon.
Springfield
110.6 mi in|~2h 2m|via I 55
Lebanon
234.4 mi in|~4h 15m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
233.3 mi
4h 13m
IL 4
10.1 mi
15m
IL 143
7.6 mi
13m
North Bolingbrook Drive
0.9 mi
1m
Poplar Street
0.7 mi
1m
US Highway 40
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 233.3 mi, about 4h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bolingbrook, IL and Highland, IL.
1
Start on IL 53
0.9 mi·1 min·North Bolingbrook Drive
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
3
Merge onto I 55
109 mi·1 hr 59 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
59 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward IL 4: Staunton, Lebanon
7
Turn left onto IL 4
10 mi·15 min·IL 4
8
Turn left onto IL 143
7.6 mi·13 min·IL 143
9
Turn left onto US 40; IL 143
0.5 mi·50 sec·US Highway 40
10
Enter roundabout onto Poplar Street
16 ft·0 sec·Poplar Street
11
Continue on Poplar Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Poplar Street
12
Enter roundabout
285 ft·5 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 126.8 miles from Bolingbrook, IL, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 233.3 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 56 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.8 miles or 2h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Highland, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bolingbrook, 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 Bolingbrook, IL
This is one driving day of about 253.6 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Bolingbrook, 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 55 for about 233.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 126.8 mi from Bolingbrook, IL
· 2h 19m into the drive
The midpoint is around 126.8 miles from Bolingbrook, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 233.3 miles.
Arriving in Highland, IL
The final approach into Highland, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Highland, IL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 174.9
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.65 one way
$79.29 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.53
$87.06
premium
$4.89
$48.80
$97.61
diesel
$5.61
$55.99
$111.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.1
0
$26.63
$12.17
Efficient EV
63.4
0
$22.19
$10.14
EV Truck/SUV
101.4
1
$35.50
$16.23
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bolingbrook, IL
Late night
in Bolingbrook on Friday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Highland, IL
Late night
in Highland on Friday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bloomington, IL
127 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
12 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
4h 47m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bolingbrook, IL to Highland, IL covers 253.6 miles and takes about 4h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, IL 4, IL 143. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 126.8 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 $39.65 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.6 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Bolingbrook, IL and Highland, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Lebanon.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
