Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
50.5 mi
81 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
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
Lynwood, IL
Mike Tyurin
Chicago, IL to Lynwood, IL is 50.5 miles and takes about 1h 12m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip within the Midwest, connecting two points in Illinois. Expect a drive with a high degree of turns, indicating you'll be navigating local roads for a significant portion of the journey. While the longest stretch on a highway is 26 miles, the overall profile suggests this isn't a pure interstate cruise. Plan for a day trip, as the duration and distance are easily manageable.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 26 mi | 31m |
| Eisenhower Expressway | 12.1 mi | 16m |
| Orchard Road | 8 mi | 13m |
| South Ashland Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| US 34 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Rickard Drive | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| West Van Buren Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Lynwood, IL.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn left onto West Cermak Road
Turn right onto South Ashland Avenue
Turn left onto West Van Buren Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
Take the exit
Turn left onto CR 83
Turn right onto US 34
Continue on US 34
Turn right onto East Rickard Drive
Turn left onto Edythe Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.2 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 41.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto West Van Buren Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Orchard Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto CR 83 / Orchard Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.90 one way
$15.79 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.67 | $17.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.72 | $19.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.15 | $22.30 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.56
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 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 | 15.1 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Chicago on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Lynwood on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
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
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.
This route is characterized as a "Turn-heavy local drive," meaning you'll encounter frequent intersections and changes in direction. Although 25% of the drive is on highways like the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and Eisenhower Expressway, the overall feel will be more about navigating suburban and local streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 26 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, offering a brief period of consistent highway travel. Be prepared to adjust your speed and attention frequently as you transition between faster highway sections and more intricate local road segments.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near West Van Buren Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.7 miles (West Van Buren Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): 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.
Between Chicago, IL and Lynwood, IL, road signs point toward Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
Indiana
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
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 1h 12m. Total distance: 50.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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