The Cost of a Trip Between Bolingbrook, Illinois and Brecksville, Ohio
Traveling between two major cities in the Midwest can be quite the road trip adventure. Bolingbrook, Illinois, and Brecksville, Ohio, are approximately 365 miles apart. If you're planning a trip between the two cities, you'll likely want to consider gas prices, distance, time, and potential route options. In this article, we'll break down these factors to help you find the most cost-effective way to get from A to B.
Route Options
When it comes to traveling from Bolingbrook to Brecksville, there are multiple routes you can take. The three most common routes are:
- I-80 E and I-76 E: This route takes you through Indiana and Ohio. This is the most direct route between Bolingbrook and Brecksville, with a total distance of 364 miles.
- I-65 S and I-70 E: This route takes you through Indiana and Ohio as well but adds a little detour through Indianapolis. This route covers a total distance of 397.4 miles.
- I-94 E and I-75 S: This route takes you east through Michigan before entering Ohio. This route has a total distance of 408 miles.
Cost Breakdown
To determine the most cost-effective route, we'll need to explore gas prices along each of the three routes. According to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report, the average gas prices as of August 2021 for regular unleaded gasoline in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio are:
- Illinois: $3.22/gallon
- Indiana: $3.09/gallon
- Ohio: $3.05/gallon
Assuming your car gets 25 miles per gallon (mpg) and your trip will cover 365 miles, the total amount of gas you'll need is just under 15 gallons of gas. Using this information, let's break down the cost of each route based on the average gas prices.
I-80 E and I-76 E
The direct route between Bolingbrook, Illinois, and Brecksville, Ohio, is along I-80 E and I-76 E. This route covers a distance of 364 miles. Based on the average gas prices mentioned earlier, here's an estimated cost breakdown for this route:
- Illinois (Bolingbrook to Indiana state line): 364 miles / 25 mpg * $3.22/gallon = $47.05
- Indiana (Indiana state line to Ohio state line): 137 miles / 25 mpg * $3.09/gallon = $16.77
- Ohio (Ohio state line to Brecksville): 38 miles / 25 mpg * $3.05/gallon = $4.69
Total Estimated Cost: $68.51
I-65 S and I-70 E
This route takes you through Indiana and Ohio as well but adds a little detour through Indianapolis. This route has a total distance of 397.4 miles. Based on the average gas prices mentioned earlier, here's an estimated cost breakdown for this route:
- Illinois (Bolingbrook to Indiana state line): 115 miles / 25 mpg * $3.22/gallon = $14.89
- Indiana (Indiana state line to Indianapolis): 129 miles / 25 mpg * $3.09/gallon = $15.89
- Indiana (Indianapolis to Ohio state line): 119 miles / 25 mpg * $3.09/gallon = $14.61
- Ohio (Ohio state line to Brecksville): 34.4 miles / 25 mpg * $3.05/gallon = $4.22
Total Estimated Cost: $49.61
I-94 E and I-75 S
This route takes you east through Michigan before entering Ohio. This route has a total distance of 408 miles. Based on the average gas prices mentioned earlier, here's an estimated cost breakdown for this route:
- Illinois (Bolingbrook to Indiana state line): 56 miles / 25 mpg * $3.22/gallon = $7.29
- Indiana (Indiana state line to Michigan state line): 55 miles / 25 mpg * $3.09/gallon = $6.74
- Michigan (Michigan state line to Ohio state line): 113 miles / 25 mpg * $3.09/gallon = $13.86
- Ohio (Ohio state line to Brecksville): 184 miles / 25 mpg * $3.05/gallon = $22.66
Total Estimated Cost: $50.55
Recommended Route
Based on the data, it's clear that the most cost-effective route is I-65 S and I-70 E, which has an estimated cost of $49.61. This route may not be the shortest or fastest, but the detour through Indianapolis doesn't add too much extra distance, and Indiana has lower gas prices than Illinois or Ohio. While I-80 E and I-76 E looks like the shortest and most direct route, the higher cost of driving through Illinois and Ohio adds up quickly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a trip from Bolingbrook, Illinois, to Brecksville, Ohio, is approximately 365 miles. The most cost-effective route is I-65 S and I-70 E, which has an estimated cost of $49.61 based on the average gas prices along each route. While I-80 E and I-76 E looks like the shortest and most direct route, the higher cost of gas in Illinois and Ohio adds up quickly. On average, a trip between the two cities should take around six hours to complete, including rest stops and traffic. Keep these factors in mind as you plan your own road trip adventure between these two Midwestern cities.