How far is Lake Forest, IL from Belleville, IL?

The driving distance from Lake Forest, IL to Belleville, IL is about 317.8 miles (511.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 281.9 miles (453.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
317.75 mi
05h 14m
Flight
281.84 mi
453.57 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Forest.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
281.84 mi
Kilometers
453.57 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
317.75 mi
Kilometers
511.37 km
Drive Time
05h 14m

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 05h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Belleville
Sat, May 30, 5:34 AM CDT
Return by in Lake Forest
Sat, May 30, 10:48 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Forest
2026-05-30T00:19
Arrive Belleville
Sat, May 30, 5:34 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:14 AM to 1:14 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:32 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake Forest
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Bloomington
IL

The second most populous city in McLean County, Illinois.

From Lake Forest
158.1 mi
02h 37m
To Belleville
159.6 mi
02h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph ENE
Destination
80°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Forest and Belleville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Forest and Belleville.

  1. 1

    Start on Griffith Road

    22 m · 3 sec · Griffith Road

  2. 2

    Turn straight onto East Woodland Road

    1960 ft · 1 min · East Woodland Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North Green Bay Road

    2060 ft · 1 min · North Green Bay Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East Deerpath

    1.6 km · 3 min · East Deerpath

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left toward Deerpath Road

    1302 ft · 36 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto South Skokie Highway

    926 ft · 12 sec · South Skokie Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 60

    534 ft · 14 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on W Kennedy Road

    2279 ft · 45 sec · W Kennedy Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Townline Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Townline Road

  10. 10

    Continue on East Townline Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · East Townline Road

  11. 11

    Take the ramp left toward I 94 Toll East: Indiana

    1872 ft · 49 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    5.8 mi · 7 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    22.7 mi · 29 min · Tri-State Tollway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

    1 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    2295 ft · 56 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    119.4 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

    64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    77.9 mi · 1 hr 24 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 159 South: Collinsville

    1434 ft · 48 sec

  22. 22

    Continue on Vandalia Street

    3 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street

  23. 23

    Continue on South Morrison Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue

  24. 24

    Continue on North Illinois Street

    9.3 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto East F Street

    18 m · 3 sec · East F Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East F Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Forest and Belleville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
26 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 South
143 mi · 45%
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119 mi · 38%
Tri-State Tollway
34.5 mi · 11%
North Illinois Street
9.33 mi · 3%
Vandalia Street
2.97 mi · 1%
South Morrison Avenue
1.27 mi
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

119 mi · 02h 13m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 14m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35.9 mi
281.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bloomington
02h 37m from Lake Forest
Leave By
6:32 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Lake Forest and Chance Rain Showers near Belleville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Forest to Belleville?

The road trip is about 317.8 miles (511.4 km) and usually takes 05h 14m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Bloomington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.1 miles from Lake Forest and 159.6 miles from Belleville.

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 35.9 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:32 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.27 one way or $84.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Lake Forest and Chance Rain Showers near Belleville.

Stop Ideas Near Bloomington

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Bloomington and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 3.5 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Meeting point 2 mi away

City of Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
Rating 3.6/5 8 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 2 mi away

Bloomington Finance Department

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
City tax office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bloomington.

RAIL

Uptown Station

3 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Lincoln

49 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Pontiac station

53 mi away
721 West Washington St.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

62 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Forest and Belleville. Straight-line distance: 281.84 mi (453.57 km).

Lake Forest

#1 Lake Forest

City in Lake County, Illinois, United States

Population19,379
Coordinates42.2586300, -87.8406300
Altitude210
CountryUnited States
Belleville

#2 Belleville

The county seat of St.

Population40,536
Coordinates38.5200500, -89.9839900
Altitude157
CountryUnited States
Start: Griffith Road (-87.840488, 42.258633)
End: East F Street (-89.983993, 38.519971)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 511 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.21 gal
42.44 L · about $42.27
Round trip
$84.55
22.42 gal · 84.88 L
Estimated CO2
99.6 kg one way
Round trip: 199.2 kg / 439 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $42.27 $84.55
Mid-grade $4.25 $47.68 $95.35
Premium $4.65 $52.17 $104.34
Diesel $5.30 $59.46 $118.92

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

There is no time difference between Lake Forest and Belleville. The current time is 00:19:47.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.