How far is Belleville, IL from Lake Forest, IL?
The driving distance from Belleville, IL to Lake Forest, IL is about 316.1 miles (508.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 04m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 281.9 miles (453.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 06h 04m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
The second most populous city in McLean County, Illinois.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain Showers
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Belleville and Lake Forest.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belleville and Lake Forest.
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1
Start on East F Street
18 m · 6 sec · East F Street
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2
Turn right onto North Illinois Street
9.3 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street
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3
Continue on South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue
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4
Continue on Vandalia Street
2.8 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street
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5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North, I 70 East
2235 ft · 55 sec
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6
Merge slight left
3.8 mi · 4 min
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7
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
107.9 mi · 1 hr 57 min
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8
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago
29.4 mi · 31 min
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9
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
120.8 mi · 2 hr 14 min
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
1.6 mi · 3 min
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin
1694 ft · 41 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
29 mi · 36 min · Tri-State Tollway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward IL 60: Town Line Road
2941 ft · 58 sec
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15
Turn straight onto East Townline Road
2448 ft · 52 sec · East Townline Road
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16
Continue on Townline Road
1.6 km · 2 min · Townline Road
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17
Continue on W Kennedy Road
2498 ft · 49 sec · W Kennedy Road
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18
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Skokie Highway
1396 ft · 30 sec · South Skokie Highway
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19
Take the exit slight right
1302 ft · 38 sec
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20
Turn right onto West Deerpath
1.2 mi · 3 min · West Deerpath
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21
Turn left onto North McKinley Road
2419 ft · 52 sec · North McKinley Road
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22
Turn slight right onto East Woodland Road
62 m · 7 sec · East Woodland Road
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23
Turn slight left onto Griffith Road
22 m · 3 sec · Griffith Road
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Griffith Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Belleville and Lake Forest.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 55 North
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
121 mi · 02h 14m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Chance Rain Showers leaving Belleville and Partly Sunny near Lake Forest.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Belleville to Lake Forest?
The road trip is about 316.1 miles (508.7 km) and usually takes 06h 04m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Bloomington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.1 miles from Belleville and 158 miles from Lake Forest.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 281.9 miles (453.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.05 one way or $84.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Belleville and Partly Sunny near Lake Forest.
Stop Ideas Near Bloomington
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City Hall - Town of Normal
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington Finance Department
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bloomington.
Uptown Station
Lincoln
Pontiac station
Peoria, Illinois
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Belleville and Lake Forest. Straight-line distance: 281.84 mi (453.57 km).
#1 Belleville
The county seat of St.
| Population | 40,536 |
| Coordinates | 38.5200500, -89.9839900 |
| Altitude | 157 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lake Forest
City in Lake County, Illinois, United States
| Population | 19,379 |
| Coordinates | 42.2586300, -87.8406300 |
| Altitude | 210 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lake Forest (-87.84063, 42.25863)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 509 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 31m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 19m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 56m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $42.05 | $84.09 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $47.42 | $94.84 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $51.89 | $103.78 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $59.14 | $118.28 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Illinois · May 30, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.