The drive from Plainfield, IL to Round Lake, IL covers 66.9 miles and takes about 1h 31m 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, North Rand Road, IL 53 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 $10.46 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.
Midpoint
33.4 miles from Plainfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 66.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Plainfield, IL to Round Lake, IL covers 66.9 miles and takes about 1h 31m, 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 21 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 around 1 miles in near South Naperville Road.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 4 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These 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.
5
4 mi into trip|~7m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
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 269
Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest...
6
37.5 mi into trip|~51m in|IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Plainfield, IL to Round Lake, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs along the way.
Southwest Suburbs
11 mi in|~16m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Tollway
19.2 mi
24m
North Rand Road
14.3 mi
18m
IL 53
8.9 mi
11m
I 55
7 mi
8m
I 290
5.6 mi
6m
West Belvidere Road
3.6 mi
5m
East Main Street
2.1 mi
3m
North Division Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 19.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plainfield, IL and Round Lake, 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
7.0 mi·8 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 269Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest SuburbsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
10
Merge onto I 355
19 mi·24 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi·6 min·I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
8.9 mi·11 min·IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on Lake Cook Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Lake Cook Road
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 12
14 mi·18 min·North Rand Road
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.6 mi·47 sec·US 12; IL 59
16
Turn right onto IL 120
3.6 mi·5 min·West Belvidere Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto South Cedar Lake Road
0.9 mi·1 min·South Cedar Lake Road
18
Continue on North Cedar Lake Road
496 ft·9 sec·North Cedar Lake Road
19
Turn slight right onto Nippersink Avenue
0.1 mi·23 sec·Nippersink Avenue
20
Turn left onto North Cedar Lake Road
236 ft·6 sec·North Cedar Lake Road
21
Arrive at destination
North Cedar Lake Road
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 33.4 miles from Plainfield, IL, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.2 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 15 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.4 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Round Lake, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Plainfield, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Plainfield, IL
This is one driving day of about 66.9 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Plainfield, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Tollway for about 19.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.4 mi from Plainfield, IL
· 46m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 11.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.46 one way
$20.92 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.48
$22.97
premium
$4.89
$12.87
$25.75
diesel
$5.61
$14.77
$29.54
Estimated Tolls: $1.35
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(19.2 mi)$1.35
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
$10
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.1
0
$7.02
$3.21
Efficient EV
16.7
0
$5.85
$2.68
EV Truck/SUV
26.8
0
$9.37
$4.28
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Plainfield, IL
Evening
in Plainfield on Friday
Local time
5:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Round Lake, IL
Evening
in Round Lake on Friday
Local time
5:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°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
3 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 31m 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 Round Lake, IL covers 66.9 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Veterans Memorial Tollway, North Rand Road, IL 53. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.4 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 $10.46 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 66.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 4 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Plainfield, IL to Round Lake, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
