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Trip from Chicago, IL to Elwood, IL

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

Drive Time

1h 11m

Distance

51.6 mi

83 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 5m ★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m

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
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Downtown chicago-il

Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

Downtown Elwood, IL, IL

Elwood, IL

Almighty Shilref

Trip Overview

If you are looking to get from Chicago to Elwood, Illinois, expect a straightforward 51.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. This trip remains entirely within the Midwest, keeping your travel logistics simple and efficient. Because the entire route is manageable in one go, you can easily complete it as a quick day trip without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting around $8 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for this drive. Since you will be navigating local roads like West Cermak Road, South Halsted Street, and South Canalport Avenue, this drive serves as a practical connection between these two Illinois points rather than a long-haul excursion.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 18.6 mi 22m
I 57 13.4 mi 18m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) 8.8 mi 11m
South Chicago Street 8.2 mi 12m
Dan Ryan Expressway 0.7 mi <1m
East Mississippi Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
West Cermak Road 0.2 mi <1m
South Halsted Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 18.6 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

0.2 mi · 1 min · this road
2

At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Cermak Road
3

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · South Halsted Street
Use the left lane.
4

Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

285 ft · 5 sec · South Canalport Avenue
5

Turn slight right

110 ft · 4 sec
6

Take the ramp

455 ft · 11 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward I 90, I 94 East: Indiana Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 90; I 94

0.7 mi · 47 sec · Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

8.8 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

13 mi · 18 min · I 57
Exit 63 Toward I 57 South: Memphis Use the slight right lane.
11

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 45 sec
Exit 345B Toward I 80 West: Iowa Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto I 80

19 mi · 22 min · I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Exit 132 Toward US 52, IL 53: Chicago Street Use the right lane.
14

Turn right onto US 52; IL 53

8.2 mi · 12 min · South Chicago Street
15

Turn right onto South Saint Louis Street

497 ft · 29 sec · South Saint Louis Street
16

Turn left onto East Mississippi Avenue

0.2 mi · 38 sec · East Mississippi Avenue
17

Turn left onto South Chicago Street

50 ft · 2 sec · South Chicago Street
18

Arrive at destination

South Chicago Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Markham, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Markham, IL

26 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

Blue Island, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Frankfort Square, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.8 miles from Chicago, 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 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 42.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 90, I 94 East: Indiana

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 90, I 94 East: Indiana
8
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

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

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
8
10.4 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 57

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 63 Toward I 57 South: Memphis
7
23.8 mi into trip | ~33m in

Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 345B Toward I 80 West: Iowa
8
42.9 mi into trip | ~57m in

Take the exit toward US 52, IL 53: Chicago Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Exit 132 Toward US 52, IL 53: Chicago Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.07 one way

$16.13 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $8.86 $17.71
premium $4.89 $9.93 $19.86
diesel $5.61 $11.39 $22.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.5 0 $5.42 $2.48
Efficient EV 12.9 0 $4.52 $2.06
EV Truck/SUV 20.6 0 $7.22 $3.30

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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 18, 2026

Origin

Chicago, IL

Late night in Chicago on Tuesday

Local time

5:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

WSW 15 mph 98% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:33AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Elwood, IL

Late night in Elwood on Tuesday

Local time

5:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

67°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

21 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 11m 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?

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than drifting along an interstate. You will spend 0% of your time on highways, meaning you should anticipate frequent stops, traffic signals, and turns as you navigate through the urban and suburban landscape. This route trades high-speed cruising for a more granular experience of the regional roads connecting Chicago and Elwood. Without any long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, the character of the drive remains consistent and localized from start to finish. Expect a steady, hands-on pace that requires your full attention throughout the 1 hour and 10 minutes on the road.

81% 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: 18.6 mi on I 80.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 57. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.4 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

725 ft 575 ft

Total Climb

170 ft

Total Descent

113 ft

Highest Point

725 ft

~29.5 mi in

Elevation Range

150 ft

About the Cities

Starting 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 1h 11m. Total distance: 51.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 18.6 miles on I 80. 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 Elwood, 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 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.4 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Elwood, 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.

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