Origin
Vernon Hills, IL
Late night in Vernon Hills on Saturday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vernon Hills, IL to Naperville, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
39.4 mi
63 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vernon Hills, IL
Chris Flaten
Trip Overview
This straightforward 39.4-mile drive from Vernon Hills to Naperville, Illinois, is easily manageable in under an hour, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate via IL 53 and I-355, with a portion on East Ogden Avenue. With an estimated fuel cost of around $6, this route is quite economical for a quick excursion within the Midwest. The drive offers a direct and efficient path, ideal for those looking for a simple transit between these two Illinois communities without the need for an overnight stay. It’s a practical option for a local journey, focusing on getting you to your destination efficiently.
About the Cities
Arriving in Naperville, IL
Full guide →Naperville is a bedroom community in the Chicagoland area. In 2008, Money magazine ranked Naperville third on its list of the 100 best places to live in the United States.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 39.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for about 76% of this journey. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 13.9 miles on IL 53, allowing for consistent progress. The route transitions between major arteries like IL 53 and I-355, providing a mix of controlled-access highway driving. While not designed for scenic vistas, this profile ensures a predictable and relatively swift transit. The road character remains largely consistent, prioritizing direct travel over winding paths.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IL 53 is the longest continuous segment at about 13.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 53 and I 355. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.2 miles in near IL 53.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 39.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.2 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.1 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
7.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
14.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
8
21.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I 355
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
7
33.9 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward US 34: Ogden Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19
Toward US 34: Ogden Avenue
6
34.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Turn right toward Lisle
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Lisle
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 Vernon Hills, IL to Naperville, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Lisle along the way.
Lisle
34.4 mi in
|
~48m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 53 | 13.9 mi | 18m |
| I 355 | 12.8 mi | 16m |
| East Ogden Avenue | 5 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 83 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Lake Cook Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Arlington Heights Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Westmoreland Drive | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| IL RT 83 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
IL 53
— 13.9 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vernon Hills, IL and Naperville, IL.
1
Start on Oakwood Road
35 ft
·
3 sec
·
Oakwood Road
2
Turn right onto Westmoreland Drive
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Westmoreland Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto IL 83
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
IL RT 83
4
Continue on IL 83
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 83
5
Continue on IL 83
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
McHenry Road
6
Turn right onto Arlington Heights Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Arlington Heights Road
7
Turn right onto Lake Cook Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Cook Road
8
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 53
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
IL 53
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355
13 mi
·
16 min
·
I 355
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 19
Toward US 34: Ogden Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right
154 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Lisle
Use the right lane.
13
Turn straight onto US 34
5.0 mi
·
10 min
·
East Ogden Avenue
14
Turn right onto North Washington Street
50 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Washington Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.7 mi from Vernon Hills, IL · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from Vernon Hills, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Naperville, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Naperville, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.16 one way
$12.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.76 | $13.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.58 | $15.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.70 | $17.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Naperville, IL
Late night in Naperville on Saturday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
2 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
59m 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 Vernon Hills, IL to Naperville, IL covers 39.4 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IL 53, I 355, East Ogden Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.7 miles from Vernon Hills, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.16 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 is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 39.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.2 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.1 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Vernon Hills, IL to Naperville, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Lisle 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.
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