Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 57m
Distance
313.7 mi
505 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Burton, IL
Osman Arabacı
Chicago, IL to Burton, IL is 313.7 miles and takes about 5h 57m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 72, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, offering a straightforward journey between two points. Expect a highway-focused profile for the majority of this trip. Given the relatively short duration, this is easily accomplished as a single-day excursion. It’s a practical route for getting from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
156.9 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 128.7 mi | 2h 26m |
| I 72 | 92.9 mi | 1h 39m |
| I 55 | 64.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | 13.6 mi | 14m |
| Stevenson Expressway | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| State Street | 3.3 mi | 7m |
| County Road 5 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 63rd Street | 0.6 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Burton, IL.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
Turn slight right
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 55
Continue on I 55
Continue on I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 72; US 36
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 172; IL 110
Take the exit
Turn right onto IL 104
Turn right onto North 63rd Street
At end of road, turn left onto State Street
Continue on County Road 5
Continue on Main Street
Arrive at destination
Since this 5h 57m drive can comfortably be completed in one day, aim for an early morning departure from Chicago to maximize daylight. With a fuel cost estimate of $49, plan your stops accordingly, ensuring you refuel before hitting the longest stretch of 128.7 miles to avoid any range anxiety. While the route is primarily highway, keep an eye on the exit numbers as you approach Burton, IL, as there's only one recommended stop, suggesting a fairly direct path.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 69 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.9 miles or 3h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burton, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Chicago, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chicago, IL
This is one driving day of about 313.7 miles and 5h 57m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
157 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.
A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 156.9 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 201 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: St Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 72; US 36 toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$49.04 one way
$98.09 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $53.85 | $107.70 |
| premium | $4.89 | $60.37 | $120.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $69.26 | $138.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.1 | 1 | $32.94 | $15.06 |
| Efficient EV | 78.4 | 0 | $27.45 | $12.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 125.5 | 1 | $43.92 | $20.08 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Chicago on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Night in Burton on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
52°F
Bloomington, IL
157 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This trip is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with a 98% highway share. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates like the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 72, and I 55. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is approximately 128.7 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. Prepare for a consistent driving experience without many deviations onto slower, more scenic roads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 72. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near South Halsted Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 313.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (South Halsted Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Chicago, IL to Burton, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
Springfield
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 57m. Total distance: 313.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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