Origin
Naperville, IL
Late night in Naperville on Friday
Local time
1:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Naperville, IL to University Park, IL
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
48.9 mi
79 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
University Park, IL
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
The drive from Naperville, IL to University Park, IL covers 48.9 miles and takes about 1h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Veterans Memorial Tollway, I 80, I 57 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.2 miles on Veterans Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.64 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 48.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Naperville, IL to University Park, IL covers 48.9 miles and takes about 1h 8m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Veterans Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 19.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 34 / East Ogden Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.9 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (US 34 / East Ogden Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 34 / East Ogden Avenue
Turn left onto US 34 / East Ogden Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
5
5.2 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
24.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
8
43.6 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward Stuenkel Road, University Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 337
Toward Stuenkel Road, University Parkway
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 19.2 mi | 21m |
| I 80 | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| I 57 | 6.8 mi | 8m |
| East Ogden Avenue | 5 mi | 10m |
| University Parkway | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| West Stuenkel Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Stuenkel Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Burnham Drive | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 19.2 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Naperville, IL and University Park, IL.
1
Start on North Washington Street
50 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Washington Street
2
Turn left onto US 34
5.0 mi
·
10 min
·
East Ogden Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 355
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Exit 0A
Toward I 80 East: Indiana
6
Merge onto I 80
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 151A
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
8
Merge onto I 57
6.8 mi
·
8 min
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 337
Toward Stuenkel Road, University Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto West Stuenkel Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Stuenkel Road
11
Continue on Stuenkel Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Stuenkel Road
12
Turn right onto University Parkway
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
University Parkway
13
Turn right onto Burnham Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Burnham Drive
14
Turn left onto Sandra Drive
244 ft
·
15 sec
·
Sandra Drive
15
Turn left
203 ft
·
14 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.5 mi from Naperville, IL · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Naperville, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in University Park, IL
The final approach into University Park, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.64 one way
$15.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.39 | $16.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.41 | $18.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.80 | $21.59 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.34
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(19.2 mi)
$1.34
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 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 | 14.7 | 0 | $5.13 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.85 | $3.13 |
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
University Park, IL
Late night in University Park on Friday
Local time
1:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
25 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 8m 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 Naperville, IL to University Park, IL covers 48.9 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Veterans Memorial Tollway, I 80, I 57. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.5 miles from Naperville, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.64 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.9 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (US 34 / East Ogden Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Naperville, IL to University Park, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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