This 272.2-mile drive from Woodridge, IL to Swansea, IL is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 6 minutes. With 93% of the journey on highways, you'll spend most of your time on I-55 and the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest journey is around $43. Given its manageable duration and highway profile, it's ideal for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. You'll encounter one recommended stop along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
136.1 miles from Woodridge, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
142.7 mi
2h 34m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
111.5 mi
2h 2m
North Illinois Street
8.4 mi
13m
Vandalia Street
3 mi
4m
Veterans Memorial Tollway
2.5 mi
3m
South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
75th Street
0.8 mi
1m
North Belt West
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 142.7 mi, about 2h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodridge, IL and Swansea, IL.
1
Start on Woodridge Drive
0.2 mi·46 sec·Woodridge Drive
2
Turn right onto 75th Street
0.8 mi·1 min·75th Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 355 Toll South: JolietUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 355
2.5 mi·3 min·Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 12AToward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward Joliet Road SouthUse the slight left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 55
112 mi·2 hr 2 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
78 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 15AToward IL 159 South: Collinsville
12
Continue on IL 159
3.0 mi·4 min·Vandalia Street
13
Continue on IL 159
1.3 mi·1 min·South Morrison Avenue
14
Continue on IL 159
8.4 mi·13 min·North Illinois Street
15
Turn right onto IL 161
0.3 mi·32 sec·North Belt West
16
Continue on IL 161
151 ft·9 sec·North Belt West
17
Arrive at destination
IL 161
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 6-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Woodridge to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when and where to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 142.7-mile stretch on I-55, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $43 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a small buffer. This route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, so you can focus on reaching Swansea without needing to plan an overnight stay.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 136.1 miles from Woodridge, IL, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.7 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 60 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.1 miles or 2h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Swansea, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Woodridge, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Woodridge, IL
This is one driving day of about 272.2 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Woodridge, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 142.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 181.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
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 12A
Toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
7
4.2 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Joliet Road South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Joliet Road South
7
4.6 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
116.2 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
7
181.1 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.56 one way
$85.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.72
$93.45
premium
$4.89
$52.38
$104.76
diesel
$5.61
$60.10
$120.20
Estimated Tolls: $0.18
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(2.5 mi)$0.18
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
$43
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.7
1
$28.58
$13.07
Efficient EV
68.1
0
$23.82
$10.89
EV Truck/SUV
108.9
1
$38.11
$17.42
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Woodridge, IL
Afternoon
in Woodridge on Saturday
Local time
1:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Swansea, IL
Afternoon
in Swansea on Saturday
Local time
1:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Springfield, IL
136 mi in
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
27 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
5h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 178.3
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 93% of the drive utilizing major roadways like I-55. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch at 142.7 miles, offering a consistent pace. The route is characterized by the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and North Illinois Street, which serve as key connectors. This drive's personality is that of efficient travel, minimizing local roads for a more direct path between your Illinois destinations.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 142.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 272.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Woodridge, IL to Swansea, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 6m. Total distance: 272.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 142.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.18 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Swansea, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Swansea, IL before the return drive.
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.
