Trip from Niles, IL to Northfield, IL

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are North Waukegan Road, Waukegan Road, Wagner Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 3.3 miles from Niles, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: What towns show up on signs driving from Niles, IL to Northfield, IL?

The route from Niles, IL to Northfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Q: Are there national parks near the route from Niles, IL to Northfield, IL?

Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

11m

Distance

6.5 mi

11 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

4 AM

0h 11m ★

6 AM

0h 12m

8 AM

0h 14m

10 AM

0h 12m

12 PM

0h 12m

3 PM

0h 12m

5 PM

0h 14m

8 PM

0h 11m ★

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Trip Overview

The drive from Niles, IL to Northfield, IL covers 6.5 miles and takes about 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Waukegan Road, Waukegan Road, Wagner Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 2.5 miles on North Waukegan Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.02 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 11m. Total distance: 6.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 11m drive with frequent turns across 6.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 6 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

North Waukegan Road is the longest continuous segment at about 2.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in near Wagner Road.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Niles, IL to Northfield, IL is easy. At 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles (Wagner Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (Bosworth Lane): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

2 of 2 key points

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

6

5.2 mi into trip | ~8m in | Wagner Road

Turn left onto Wagner Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

3

6.5 mi into trip | ~11m in | Bosworth Lane

Turn left onto Bosworth Lane

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North Waukegan Road	2.5 mi	4m
Waukegan Road	1.7 mi	2m
Wagner Road	1.4 mi	3m
East Lake Avenue	0.9 mi	1m
Bosworth Lane	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: North Waukegan Road — 2.5 mi, about 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Niles, IL and Northfield, IL.

1

Start on North Waukegan Road

2.5 mi · 4 min · North Waukegan Road

2

Continue on IL 43

1.7 mi · 2 min · Waukegan Road

Use the left lane.

3

Turn right onto East Lake Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Lake Avenue

4

Turn left onto Wagner Road

1.4 mi · 3 min · Wagner Road

Use the left lane.

5

Turn left onto Bosworth Lane

79 ft · 3 sec · Bosworth Lane

6

Arrive at destination

Bosworth Lane

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.02 one way

$2.03 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 2 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$1.12	$2.23
premium	$4.89	$1.25	$2.50
diesel	$5.61	$1.44	$2.87

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$1

Estimated CO2 emission: 2.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	2	$0.68	$0.31
Efficient EV	1.6	$0.57	$0.26
EV Truck/SUV	2.6	$0.91	$0.42

Gas CO2

2 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (50% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Niles, IL

Afternoon in Niles on Thursday

Local time

1:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

NW 10 to 15 mph 39% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:30AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:30AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Northfield, IL

Afternoon in Northfield on Thursday

Local time

1:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°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

5 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

11m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Niles, IL to Northfield, IL covers 6.5 miles and takes about 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Waukegan Road, Waukegan Road, Wagner Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 3.3 miles from Niles, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.02 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.

The drive from Niles, IL to Northfield, IL is easy. At 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles (Wagner Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (Bosworth Lane): Navigation decision point.

The route from Niles, IL to Northfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500