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Trip from Chicago, IL to New Lenox, 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

55m

Distance

40 mi

64 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 51m ★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 52m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown chicago-il

Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

village in Will County, Illinois, United States

New Lenox, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Chicago to New Lenox, you are looking at a straightforward 40-mile journey that typically takes about 55 minutes. This Midwest transit relies heavily on major thoroughfares, specifically I-80, I-57, and the Dan Ryan Expressway. Given the short distance, this is easily manageable as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. Whether you are heading out for work or visiting friends, the route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure. It is a practical connection between the urban heart of Illinois and the surrounding suburban landscape.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 13.8 mi 16m
I 57 13.4 mi 18m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) 8.8 mi 11m
West Maple Street 1.6 mi 3m
Dan Ryan Expressway 0.7 mi <1m
West Cermak Road 0.2 mi <1m
South Halsted Street 0.1 mi <1m
Church Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 13.8 mi, about 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and New Lenox, 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

14 mi · 16 min · I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Exit 137 Toward US 30: Maple Street Use the right lane.
14

Turn right onto US 30

1.6 mi · 3 min · West Maple Street
Use the right lane.
15

Turn right onto Church Street

0.1 mi · 30 sec · Church Street
16

Turn right

160 ft · 11 sec
17

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Blue Island, IL

20 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

Joliet, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dixmoor, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20 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 38 — 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
7
38 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the exit toward US 30: Maple Street

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

Use the right lane. Exit 137 Toward US 30: Maple Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.25 one way

$12.51 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $6.87 $13.73
premium $4.89 $7.70 $15.40
diesel $5.61 $8.83 $17.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12 0 $4.20 $1.92
Efficient EV 10 0 $3.50 $1.60
EV Truck/SUV 16 0 $5.60 $2.56

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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

Morning in Chicago on Tuesday

Local time

9:30 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

New Lenox, IL

Morning in New Lenox on Tuesday

Local time

9:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°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

18 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

55m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of your time spent cruising on major expressways. You will experience a fast-paced environment as you navigate the metropolitan traffic patterns leading out of the city. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 13.8-mile run along I-80, which allows for consistent highway speeds. Because the road is almost entirely comprised of interstate travel, you should prepare for a utilitarian, high-speed experience. The transition from the dense urban grid to the outer interstate arteries happens quickly, keeping the driving style uniform from start to finish.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.8 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

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 40 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.

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.

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

Arriving in New Lenox, IL

Full guide →

The South Suburbs make up a region of Chicagoland, in Illinois. The region is generally defined as the area south of I-55 and the Chicago Skyway. Many of the communities immediately near Chicago continue to have an urban character while many of the southernmost communities are suburban and exurban.

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 55m. Total distance: 40 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 13.8 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 New Lenox, 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 New Lenox, 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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