Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Blue Island, IL to Chicago, IL

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

26m

Distance

16.7 mi

27 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 25m ★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Blue Island, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown chicago-il

Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

Trip Overview

Traveling from Blue Island to Chicago is a quick, straightforward journey spanning 16.7 miles. You can expect to reach your destination in approximately 26 minutes, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of just $2, this commute is highly economical for those moving between these two Midwest locations. The route relies heavily on major infrastructure, ensuring a direct path into the city. Because the duration is under half an hour, you won't need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you where you need to go efficiently.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) 6.2 mi 8m
Dan Ryan Expressway 3.3 mi 4m
I 57 3 mi 3m
Vincennes Avenue 2.2 mi 3m
Gregory Street 0.4 mi <1m
West 111th Street 0.2 mi <1m
West Cermak Road 0.2 mi <1m
South Canalport Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) — 6.2 mi, about 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Blue Island, IL and Chicago, IL.

1

Start on Western Avenue

28 ft · 8 sec · Western Avenue
2

Turn left onto York Street

501 ft · 29 sec · York Street
Use the left lane.
3

Turn left onto Gregory Street

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Gregory Street
4

Continue on Vincennes Avenue

2.2 mi · 3 min · Vincennes Avenue
Use the left lane.
5

Turn right onto West 111th Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · West 111th Street
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 57 North: Chicago Loop Use the left lane.
7

Merge onto I 57

3.0 mi · 3 min · I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 94

3.3 mi · 4 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

6.2 mi · 8 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 53A Toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street

243 ft · 6 sec · South Ruble Street
12

Turn slight left

75 ft · 4 sec
13

Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue

0.2 mi · 26 sec · South Canalport Avenue
14

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · South Halsted Street
15

Turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.2 mi · 24 sec · West Cermak Road
16

Turn left

152 ft · 11 sec
17

Turn right

0.2 mi · 58 sec
18

Arrive at destination

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | York Street

Turn left onto York Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
2.8 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp toward I 57 North: Chicago Loop

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 57 North: Chicago Loop
5
3.1 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 57

Merge onto I 57

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
9.4 mi into trip | ~14m in | I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
8
15.6 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the exit toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road

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 53A Toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.61 one way

$5.22 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $2.87 $5.73
premium $4.89 $3.21 $6.43
diesel $5.61 $3.69 $7.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5 0 $1.75 $0.80
Efficient EV 4.2 0 $1.46 $0.67
EV Truck/SUV 6.7 0 $2.34 $1.07

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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.

Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026

Origin

Blue Island, IL

Late night in Blue Island on Tuesday

Local time

4:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 10 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 20 at 4:39PM CDT until April 29 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 20 at 4:38PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Destination

Chicago, IL

Late night in Chicago on Tuesday

Local time

4:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Mostly Cloudy

SSE 10 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 20 at 4:39PM CDT until April 29 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 20 at 4:38PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

26m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This highway-focused drive is defined by its speed and directness, with 75% of the trip spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating the I-57 and the Dan Ryan Expressway, which offer a high-intensity urban driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 6.2 miles on the Dan Ryan Expressway (Express), providing a consistent rhythm to your travel. Don't expect scenic, winding backroads; instead, prepare for a functional interstate grind that prioritizes velocity over atmosphere. The transition from the suburbs into the urban core is seamless, keeping you on high-capacity roads for nearly the entire duration.

75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.2 mi on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express).

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) and Dan Ryan Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near York Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 16.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (York Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

640 ft 569 ft

Total Climb

37 ft

Total Descent

89 ft

Highest Point

640 ft

Elevation Range

71 ft

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Kristoffer’s Cafe & Bakery

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

27min in 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Chicago, IL

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Bridgeport Coffeehouse

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

27min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Chicago, IL

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Later in the drive, right off the route

21min in 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Chicago, IL

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Cafe Jumping Bean

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

27min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Chicago, IL

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Sa 06:00-19:00; Su 06:30-19:00

Efebina's

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

27min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Sweet Bean

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

24min in 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Chicago, IL

Cuisine: chinese;american

Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-20:00

Visit website

Smoke Signals BBQ

Restaurant

Around the midpoint, right off the route

15min in 0.1 mi from route

Cuisine: barbecue

Dia De Los Tamales

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

27min in 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: mexican

Visit website

McDonald's

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

27min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Chicago, IL

Cuisine: burger

Hours: 05:00-24:00

Visit website

Dirty Tiff's Cafe

Restaurant

Later in the drive, right off the route

21min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Chicago, IL

Visit website

Subway

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

24min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Chicago, IL

Cuisine: sandwich

Visit website

Jimmy John's

Fast_food

Later in the drive, right off the route

21min in 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Chicago, IL

Cuisine: sandwich

Visit website

SkyDeck Chicago Willis Tower

Attraction

Near the end, short detour

27min in 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Chicago, IL

Visit website

Campbell Park

Park

Near the end, short detour

27min in 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Donnelly Park

Park

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Shoreline Sightseeing

Attraction

Near the end, short detour

27min in 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Man on a Bench

Artwork

Near the end, right off the route

24min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour
Visit website

Dog

Artwork

Near the end, right off the route

24min in 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Rooster

Artwork

Near the end, right off the route

24min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Ox

Artwork

Near the end, right off the route

24min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Ram

Artwork

Near the end, right off the route

24min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Horse

Artwork

Near the end, right off the route

24min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Club Quarters Central Loop Hotel

Hotel

Near the end, short detour

27min in 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Chicago, IL

Visit website

Courtyard Chicago Downtown/River North

Hotel

Near the end, short detour

27min in 3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Chicago, IL

Visit website

Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza

Hotel

Near the end, short detour

27min in 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Chicago, IL

The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North

Hotel

Near the end, short detour

27min in 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Chicago, IL

Visit website

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Blue Island, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1836

Blue Island is in Chicagoland, located on South Western Avenue between 119th St and 135th Street.

Arriving in Chicago, IL

Full guide →

Chicago is the home of the blues and the truth of jazz, the heart of comedy and the idea of the skyscraper. Here, the age of railroads found its center, and airplanes followed suit. "Stormy, Husky, Brawling / City of Big Shoulders," Chicago is a Heartland boomtown, its ethos defined by urban planner Daniel Burnham's immortal vision: "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." It is one of the world's great cities and the third largest city in the United States, behind only New York City and Los Angeles. As the hub of the Midwest, Chicago is easy to find — its picturesque skyline calls across the waters of Lake Michigan, a first impression that soon reveals world-class museums of art and science, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks and public art, and perhaps the finest downtown collection of modern architecture in the world.

Top landmarks

  • • Willis Tower — skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois
  • • Art Institute of Chicago — art museum and school in Chicago, United States
  • • Wrigley Field — baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, USA; home venue of the Chicago Cubs

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 16.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 6.2 miles on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Chicago, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (York Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chicago, IL before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Chicago, IL

Burton, IL 313.7 mi · 5h 57m Quincy, IL 309.6 mi · 5h 53m Adams, IL 299.3 mi · 5h 54m Alorton, IL 292.7 mi · 5h 30m

More from Blue Island, IL

Peoria, IL 154.9 mi · 2h 57m Rockford, IL 102.1 mi · 2h 5m Waukegan, IL 57.7 mi · 1h 20m Palatine, IL 42.6 mi · 1h Joliet, IL 27.8 mi · 40m Lockport, IL 27.4 mi · 38m

More trips to Chicago, IL

Rosiclare, IL 360 mi Anna, IL 345.1 mi Mount Pleasant, IL 343.6 mi Saline, IL 341.9 mi Campton, IL 339.8 mi Buena Vista, IL 338.2 mi
Escape planner: Blue Island, IL Scenic drives in IL

Explore more options from Blue Island, IL or browse trips ending in Chicago, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.