Origin
Calumet City, IL
Night in Calumet City on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Calumet City, IL to Highland Park, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
48.5 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Calumet City, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Highland Park, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Calumet City, IL to Highland Park, IL is 48.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 8 minutes via Edens Expressway and Bishop Ford Freeway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip primarily on major expressways, making it a practical option for getting between these two points without much fuss. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion or a quick commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Edens Expressway | 13.5 mi | 17m |
| Bishop Ford Freeway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Skokie Highway | 3 mi | 3m |
| Sibley Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Central Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Edens Expressway
— 13.5 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Calumet City, IL and Highland Park, IL.
1
Start on Pulaski Road
114 ft
·
7 sec
·
Pulaski Road
2
Turn right onto Wentworth Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Wentworth Avenue
3
Turn left onto Sibley Boulevard
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Sibley Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
5
Merge onto I 94
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Bishop Ford Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Bishop Ford Freeway
Toward I 94 West: Chicago Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 94
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Central Avenue East
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto Deerfield Road
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Deerfield Road
14
Continue on Central Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
15
Turn right onto Green Bay Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Green Bay Road
16
Arrive at destination
Green Bay Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.2 miles from Calumet City, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 47.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway
Merge onto I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
8.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway toward I 94 West: Chicago Loop
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 West: Chicago Loop
8
14.7 mi into trip
|
~21m 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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
6
44.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
US 41 / Skokie Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41 / Skokie Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
47.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward Central Avenue East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Central Avenue East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.58 one way
$15.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.33 | $16.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.33 | $18.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.71 | $21.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.09 | $2.33 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.10 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Highland Park, IL
Night in Highland Park on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 8m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the journey taking place on major expressways. You'll spend most of your time on the Edens Expressway and Bishop Ford Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 13.5 miles on the Edens Expressway, offering a period of consistent speed. Expect a consistent driving experience on these well-traveled roads, with minimal deviations into local traffic.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.5 mi on Edens Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Edens Expressway and Bishop Ford Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.5 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 48.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.5 miles on Edens Expressway. 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 Highland Park, 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: at 3.1 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Highland Park, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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