Trip from Edwardsville, IL to Bolingbrook, IL

Drive Time

4h 35m

Distance

249.5 mi

402 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 22m ★
6 AM
4h 35m
8 AM
5h 2m
10 AM
4h 45m
12 PM
4h 42m
3 PM
4h 46m
5 PM
5h 1m
8 PM
4h 27m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Edwardsville, IL, IL

Edwardsville, IL

Stéphane Tendon

Trip Overview

Connecting Edwardsville to Bolingbrook, this 249.5-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Illinois that typically takes 4 hours and 35 minutes. Because the route is primarily highway-focused, it is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $38 on fuel for the duration of the drive. Navigating through the heart of the Midwest, you will spend the vast majority of your time on I-55. It is a highly efficient path for those looking to move between these two points with minimal fuss or detours.

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

124.8 miles from Edwardsville, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a focused interstate experience, as 98% of this trip is spent on highways. The journey is defined by a significant 244-mile stretch along I-55, which serves as the backbone of your travel. You will transition onto Marine Road and South Bolingbrook Drive only as you near your destination, providing a brief change of pace from the long interstate haul. The character of this drive is consistent and functional, prioritizing speed and directness over winding scenic alternatives. Be prepared for a steady, rhythmic pace that keeps you moving toward your goal without the interruption of frequent technical turns.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 244 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Marine Road. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 249.5 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
3.7 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
4.1 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 55

Merge onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield
7
107.9 mi into trip | ~1h 59m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
137.3 mi into trip | ~2h 30m in | I 55

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
8
248 mi into trip | ~4h 31m in

Take the exit toward IL 53: Bolingbrook, Romeoville

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 267 Toward IL 53: Bolingbrook, Romeoville

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Edwardsville, IL to Bolingbrook, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.

Peoria

137.3 mi in | ~2h 30m | via I 55

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 244 mi 4h 24m
Marine Road 2.5 mi 4m
South Bolingbrook Drive 1.1 mi 2m
IL 143 0.6 mi <1m
East Vandalia Street 0.6 mi 1m
North Bolingbrook Drive 0.1 mi <1m
South Buchanan Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 244 mi, about 4h 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Edwardsville, IL and Bolingbrook, IL.

1

Start on South Buchanan Street

120 ft · 6 sec · South Buchanan Street
2

Turn right onto IL 143; IL 157

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Vandalia Street
3

Continue on IL 143

2.5 mi · 4 min · Marine Road
4

Turn left onto IL 143

0.6 mi · 58 sec · IL 143
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Use the left lane.
6

Merge onto I 55

104 mi · 1 hr 52 min · I 55
Toward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield Use the none lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

29 mi · 31 min · I 55
Toward I 55 North: Chicago Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

111 mi · 2 hr · I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria Use the none lane.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 267 Toward IL 53: Bolingbrook, Romeoville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Turn left onto IL 53

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Bolingbrook Drive
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on IL 53

0.1 mi · 24 sec · North Bolingbrook Drive
12

Arrive at destination

IL 53

Trip Plan

To keep your 4 hour and 35 minute transit smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop along the way to break up the monotony of the long I-55 stretch. Since the drive is entirely within Illinois, you can easily complete the trip in one day, giving you plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion, especially as you approach the Bolingbrook area. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early in the trip, as the $38 cost estimate assumes consistent highway driving. Since the majority of your time is spent on I-55, use your GPS to monitor real-time traffic updates so you can adjust your single stop accordingly.

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 124.8 miles from Edwardsville, IL, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 124.8 miles or 2h 17m 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 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bolingbrook, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Edwardsville, 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 Edwardsville, IL

This is one driving day of about 249.5 miles and 4h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Edwardsville, 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 244 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 124.8 mi from Edwardsville, IL · 2h 17m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IL

125 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

Decatur, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bloomington, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 124.8 miles from Edwardsville, 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 244 miles.

Arriving in Bolingbrook, IL

The final approach into Bolingbrook, 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 Bolingbrook, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.90 one way

$75.79 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 87 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $41.78 $83.55
premium $4.80 $47.10 $94.20
diesel $5.64 $55.43 $110.86

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 87.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 74.9 0 $26.20 $11.98
Efficient EV 62.4 0 $21.83 $9.98
EV Truck/SUV 99.8 1 $34.93 $15.97

Gas CO2

87 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Edwardsville, IL

Afternoon in Edwardsville on Sunday

Local time

4:17 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bolingbrook, IL

Afternoon in Bolingbrook on Sunday

Local time

4:17 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

53°F

Bloomington, IL

125 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

11 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 35m 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 Edwardsville, IL to Bolingbrook, IL covers 249.5 miles and takes about 4h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Marine Road, South Bolingbrook Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.8 miles from Edwardsville, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.90 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 249.5 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Edwardsville, IL to Bolingbrook, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Bolingbrook, IL to Edwardsville, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

249 mi 4h 33m

Explore more options from Edwardsville, IL or browse trips ending in Bolingbrook, IL.

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