Origin
Wheaton, IL
Late night in Wheaton on Thursday
Local time
12:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wheaton, IL to Ladd, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 50m
Distance
86.5 mi
139 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wheaton, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Ladd, IL
Efrem Efre
Trip Overview
This straightforward 86.5-mile drive from Wheaton, IL to Ladd, IL is designed for a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes. You'll primarily be on major highways, with 79% of the journey consisting of interstate driving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $14, making it an economical option for a quick getaway. Given its short duration and focused highway profile, this route is ideal for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. You'll be traveling entirely within the Midwest region, specifically within Illinois.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
43.2 miles from Wheaton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 86.5-mile trip. With 79% of the route on interstates like I-80 and I-55, you'll experience consistent speeds and straightforward navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 55.4 miles on I-80, so be prepared for extended periods of highway travel. While the focus is on efficiency, you will briefly use South Naperville Road, offering a slight change of pace before rejoining the main thoroughfares. This drive prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently rather than offering winding scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 55.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 55. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Front Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.2 miles (West Front Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (IL 38 / East Roosevelt Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Front Street
Turn left onto West Front Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
IL 38 / East Roosevelt Road
Turn left onto IL 38 / East Roosevelt Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
29 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 250B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
6
85.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward IL 89: Ladd, Spring Valley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70
Toward IL 89: Ladd, Spring Valley
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 55.4 mi | 59m |
| I 55 | 12.4 mi | 14m |
| South Naperville Road | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Weber Road | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| Naper Boulevard | 3.5 mi | 7m |
| South Washington Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| IL 89 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Hobson Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 55.4 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wheaton, IL and Ladd, IL.
1
Start on West Wesley Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Wesley Street
2
Turn left onto North Wheaton Avenue
467 ft
·
28 sec
·
North Wheaton Avenue
3
Turn left onto West Front Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Front Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto IL 38
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Roosevelt Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto South Naperville Road
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
South Naperville Road
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on Naper Boulevard
3.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Naper Boulevard
8
Turn right onto Hobson Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hobson Road
Use the left lane.
9
At end of road, turn left onto South Washington Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
South Washington Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Washington Street
11
Continue on Weber Road
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Weber Road
12
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
13
Merge onto I 55
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 55
14
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 250B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 80
55 mi
·
59 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 70
Toward IL 89: Ladd, Spring Valley
17
Turn slight right onto IL 89
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 89
18
Turn right onto East Cedar Street
48 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Cedar Street
19
Arrive at destination
East Cedar Street
Trip Plan
With a total travel time of under two hours, this route offers significant flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and be in Ladd by lunchtime, or even make it a round trip within the same day. The estimated fuel cost of $14 suggests you won't need to make frequent fuel stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transition onto South Naperville Road, as this is the primary point where you'll deviate from the interstate system. Given the short duration, there's no need to plan for overnight stays.
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 43.2 miles from Wheaton, IL, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.4 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 19 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.2 miles or 1h 3m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ladd, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wheaton, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wheaton, IL
This is one driving day of about 86.5 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Wheaton, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 55.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.2 mi from Wheaton, IL · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.2 miles from Wheaton, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ladd, IL
The final approach into Ladd, 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
$13.52 one way
$27.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.85 | $29.70 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.65 | $33.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.10 | $38.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26 | 0 | $9.08 | $4.15 |
| Efficient EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.57 | $3.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.11 | $5.54 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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
Ladd, IL
Late night in Ladd on Thursday
Local time
12:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°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
1 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
1h 50m 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 Wheaton, IL to Ladd, IL covers 86.5 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 55, South Naperville Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.2 miles from Wheaton, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.52 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 86.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.2 miles (West Front Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (IL 38 / East Roosevelt Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wheaton, IL to Ladd, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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