Origin
Plainfield, IL
Evening in Plainfield on Thursday
Local time
6:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plainfield, IL to Northbrook, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 9m
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 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plainfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Northbrook, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Plainfield, IL to Northbrook, IL covers 48.9 miles and takes about 1h 9m 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, I 55, East Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.8 miles on Tri-State 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 9m. Total distance: 48.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Plainfield, IL to Northbrook, IL covers 48.9 miles and takes about 1h 9m, 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 19 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 23.8 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 around 1 miles in near South Naperville Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 1 miles (South Naperville Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (IL 126 / East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South Naperville Road
Turn sharp left onto South Naperville Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
IL 126 / East Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto IL 126 / East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
19.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
6
26.1 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
45 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward Willow Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 48
Toward Willow Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 23.8 mi | 29m |
| I 55 | 15.4 mi | 20m |
| East Main Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Willow Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Shermer Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Division Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Naperville Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Mill Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 23.8 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plainfield, IL and Northbrook, IL.
1
Start on West Hazelcrest Drive
309 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Hazelcrest Drive
2
Turn right onto IL 59
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Division Street
3
Turn sharp left onto South Naperville Road
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Naperville Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto North Mill Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Mill Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto IL 126
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 55 North
7
Merge onto I 55
15 mi
·
20 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.6 mi
·
3 min
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
10
Merge onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
19 mi
·
24 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 48
Toward Willow Road
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
this road
Exit 48
Toward Willow Road
14
Turn right onto Willow Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Willow Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Shermer Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Shermer Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto Walters Avenue
121 ft
·
3 sec
·
Walters Avenue
17
Turn right onto 1st Street
294 ft
·
14 sec
·
1st Street
18
Turn right
298 ft
·
21 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.5 mi from Plainfield, IL · 35m 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 Plainfield, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Northbrook, IL
The final approach into Northbrook, 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: $1.43
Tri-state Tollway
(23.8 mi)
$1.43
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
Northbrook, IL
Evening in Northbrook on Thursday
Local time
6:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Elmhurst, IL
24 mi in
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
18 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 9m 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 Plainfield, IL to Northbrook, IL covers 48.9 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, I 55, East Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.5 miles from Plainfield, 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 17 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 1 miles (South Naperville Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (IL 126 / East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Plainfield, IL to Northbrook, 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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