Origin
Carthage, IL
Afternoon in Carthage on Sunday
Local time
3:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carthage, IL to Naperville, IL
Drive Time
3h 49m
Distance
245.1 mi
395 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 37m
★
6 AM
3h 49m
8 AM
4h 15m
10 AM
3h 58m
12 PM
3h 56m
3 PM
4h 0m
5 PM
4h 14m
8 PM
3h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carthage, IL
Züleyha Gül
Trip Overview
The drive from Carthage, IL to Naperville, IL covers 245.1 miles and takes about 3h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Buchanan Street, E County Road 1500, Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.23 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
122.6 miles from Carthage, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 49m drive with frequent turns across 245.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Buchanan Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 49m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carthage, IL to Naperville, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Buchanan Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| E County Road 1500 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Johnson Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Calhoun Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Lafayette Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 1200th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Monmouth Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Buchanan Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carthage, IL and Naperville, IL.
1
Start on North Madison Street
62 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Madison Street
2
Turn left onto Buchanan Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Buchanan Street
3
Continue on E County Road 1500
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
E County Road 1500
4
Take the ramp slight left
85 ft
·
4 sec
5
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
7
Take the exit slight right
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
8
Turn right
3.4 mi
·
6 min
9
Turn left onto North Johnson Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Johnson Street
10
Turn slight right onto West Calhoun Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Calhoun Street
11
Turn left onto North Lafayette Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Lafayette Street
12
Continue on East 1200th Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1200th Street
13
Continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
14
Continue on South Monmouth Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Monmouth Street
15
Continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
45 mi
·
52 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
16
Keep slight right to continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
32 mi
·
34 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
17
Keep slight left to continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
18
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
125 mi
·
2 hr 16 min
·
I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
19
Take the exit slight right toward Winfield Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Winfield Road
20
Turn right onto Winfield Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Winfield Road
21
Turn left onto West Diehl Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Diehl Road
22
Turn right onto Mill Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Mill Street
23
Turn left onto West Ogden Avenue
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Ogden Avenue
24
Turn left onto North Washington Street
49 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Washington Street
25
Arrive at your 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 122.6 miles from Carthage, IL, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.6 miles or 1h 54m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Naperville, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carthage, 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 Carthage, IL
This is one driving day of about 245.1 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carthage, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 122.6 mi from Carthage, IL · 1h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
123 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 122.6 miles from Carthage, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Naperville, IL
The final approach into Naperville, 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 Naperville, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.23 one way
$74.46 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $41.04 | $82.08 |
| premium | $4.80 | $46.27 | $92.54 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $54.45 | $108.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.5 | 0 | $25.74 | $11.76 |
| Efficient EV | 61.3 | 0 | $21.45 | $9.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98 | 1 | $34.31 | $15.69 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Destination
Naperville, IL
Afternoon in Naperville on Sunday
Local time
3:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
55°F
Peoria, IL
123 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 49m 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 Carthage, IL to Naperville, IL covers 245.1 miles and takes about 3h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Buchanan Street, E County Road 1500, Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 122.6 miles from Carthage, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.23 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 49m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carthage, IL to Naperville, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Carthage, IL to Naperville, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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