Trip from Naperville, IL to Upper Alton, IL

Drive Time

5h 2m

Distance

261.2 mi

420 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$40

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 49m ★
6 AM
5h 2m
8 AM
5h 29m
10 AM
5h 12m
12 PM
5h 9m
3 PM
5h 13m
5 PM
5h 28m
8 PM
4h 54m

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

Downtown Upper Alton, IL, IL

Upper Alton, IL

Mike Tyurin

Trip Overview

The drive from Naperville, IL to Upper Alton, IL covers 261.2 miles and takes about 5h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Washington Street, Weber Road, I 55 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.67 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

130.6 miles from Naperville, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 2m drive with frequent turns across 261.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Washington 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 5h 2m 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 Naperville, IL to Upper Alton, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Washington Street Unavailable Refreshing
Weber Road Unavailable Refreshing
I 55 South Unavailable Refreshing
IL 140 Unavailable Refreshing
East State Street Unavailable Refreshing
State Route 140 Unavailable Refreshing
East Bethalto Drive Unavailable Refreshing
East MacArthur Drive Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Washington Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Naperville, IL and Upper Alton, IL.

1

Start on North Washington Street

5.3 mi · 11 min · North Washington Street
2

Turn right onto Washington Street

0.5 mi · 51 sec · Washington Street
3

Continue on Weber Road

3.9 mi · 7 min · Weber Road
4

Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 South: Bloomington

0.4 mi · 49 sec · I 55 South: Bloomington
5

Merge slight left

106 mi · 1 hr 55 min
6

Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

65 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
7

Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

63 mi · 1 hr 7 min · I 55 South: Saint Louis
8

Take the exit slight right toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville

0.3 mi · 43 sec · IL 140: Alton, Greenville
9

Turn right onto East State Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East State Street
10

Continue on State Route 140

9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140
11

Continue on East Bethalto Drive

1.8 mi · 3 min · East Bethalto Drive
12

Continue on East MacArthur Drive

1.4 mi · 2 min · East MacArthur Drive
13

Continue on West Macarthur Drive

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Macarthur Drive
14

Continue on College Avenue

2.4 mi · 4 min · College Avenue
15

Turn right onto Washington Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Washington Avenue
16

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 130.6 miles from Naperville, IL, or about 2h 31m 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 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 130.6 miles or 2h 31m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 7m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Naperville, 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 Naperville, IL

This is one driving day of about 261.2 miles and 5h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Naperville, 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 130.6 mi from Naperville, IL · 2h 31m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IL

131 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.

Popular next leg

Bloomington, IL to Upper Alton, IL

148.9 mi · 2h 54m

Pacing Suggestions

Normal, 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 130.6 miles from Naperville, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Upper Alton, IL

The final approach into Upper Alton, 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 Upper Alton, 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

$39.67 one way

$79.35 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 91 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $43.74 $87.47
premium $4.80 $49.31 $98.62
diesel $5.64 $58.03 $116.06

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: 91.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 78.4 0 $27.43 $12.54
Efficient EV 65.3 0 $22.85 $10.45
EV Truck/SUV 104.5 1 $36.57 $16.72

Gas CO2

91 kg

EV CO2

31 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Naperville, IL

Morning in Naperville on Monday

Local time

8:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Upper Alton, IL

Morning in Upper Alton on Monday

Local time

8:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

53°F

Bloomington, IL

131 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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 2m 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 Naperville, IL to Upper Alton, IL covers 261.2 miles and takes about 5h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Washington Street, Weber Road, I 55 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 130.6 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 $39.67 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 5h 2m 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 Naperville, IL to Upper Alton, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Naperville, IL to Upper Alton, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Upper Alton, IL to Naperville, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

270.4 mi 4h 21m

Explore more options from Naperville, IL or browse trips ending in Upper Alton, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

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