Origin
Lake Forest, IL
Evening in Lake Forest on Tuesday
Local time
5:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Forest, IL to Bolingbrook, IL
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
49.5 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Forest, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Forest, IL to Bolingbrook, IL covers 49.5 miles and takes about 1h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tri-State Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, IL 53 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.5 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.74 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
24.8 miles from Lake Forest, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 10m drive with frequent turns across 49.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 27.5 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 10.5 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 49.5 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 10.5 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.5 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
10.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
8
31.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
32.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31A
Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
8
33.4 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
8
43.6 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward 63rd Street, Hobson Road
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 17
Toward 63rd Street, Hobson Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lake Forest, IL and Bolingbrook, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
O'hare
10.5 mi in
|
~16m
|
via I 294
Indiana
30.6 mi in
|
~42m
|
via I 294
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
33.4 mi in
|
~47m
|
via I 88; IL 110
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 27.5 mi | 35m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| IL 53 | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Hobson Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East Deerpath | 1 mi | 2m |
| Townline Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Townline Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 27.5 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Forest, IL and Bolingbrook, IL.
1
Start on Griffith Road
71 ft
·
3 sec
·
Griffith Road
2
Turn straight onto East Woodland Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Woodland Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto North Green Bay Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Green Bay Road
4
Turn right onto East Deerpath
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Deerpath
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Deerpath Road
6
Merge onto US 41
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
South Skokie Highway
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward IL 60
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on IL 60
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
W Kennedy Road
9
Continue on IL 60
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Townline Road
10
Continue on East Townline Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Townline Road
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 94 Toll East: Indiana
Use the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 94
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
20 mi
·
25 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit onto I 294
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on I 294
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Exit 15A
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 31A
Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Use the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 131A
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 355
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 17
Toward 63rd Street, Hobson Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto 63rd Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
63rd Street
24
Continue on Hobson Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Hobson Road
25
Turn left onto IL 53
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
IL 53
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
IL 53
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 24.8 miles from Lake Forest, IL, or about 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.5 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 49.5 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.8 miles or 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 57m
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 Lake Forest, 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 Lake Forest, IL
This is one driving day of about 49.5 miles and 1h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lake Forest, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 27.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.8 mi from Lake Forest, IL · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 49.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.8 miles from Lake Forest, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.74 one way
$15.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.50 | $16.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.53 | $19.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.93 | $21.86 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.31
Tri-state Tollway
(27.5 mi)
$1.65
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(6.5 mi)
$0.40
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(3.7 mi)
$0.26
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
$8
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.20 | $2.38 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.33 | $1.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.93 | $3.17 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Bolingbrook, IL
Evening in Bolingbrook on Tuesday
Local time
5:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 10m 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 Lake Forest, IL to Bolingbrook, IL covers 49.5 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, IL 53. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.8 miles from Lake Forest, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.74 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 demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 49.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.5 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.5 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lake Forest, IL and Bolingbrook, IL, road signs point toward O'hare, Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bolingbrook, IL
More trips to Bolingbrook, IL
Explore more options from Lake Forest, IL or browse trips ending in Bolingbrook, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Lake Forest, IL or Bolingbrook, IL on MapSof.net.