If you are looking to travel from Chicago to Rome, Illinois, expect a straightforward 147-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 53 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it keeps you within the Midwest region for the duration of the ride. With an estimated fuel cost of $22, it remains an affordable option for a quick getaway. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, including the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I-80, and IL-29. Because the travel time is manageable, you have plenty of flexibility to complete the drive in one go without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.5 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
64.2 mi
1h 8m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
35.2 mi
45m
IL 29
27.4 mi
31m
I 180
8.7 mi
9m
Stevenson Expressway
5.6 mi
7m
Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
0.3 mi
<1m
West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
<1m
South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Rome, 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 right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore DriveUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 53BToward I 55 South: St LouisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 55
5.6 mi·7 min·Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 55
0.3 mi·27 sec·Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
11
Continue on I 55
35 mi·45 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 250BToward I 80 West: IowaUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 80
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward I 180 South: Hennepin
15
Continue on I 180
8.7 mi·9 min·I 180
16
Keep slight right at fork
2.1 mi·2 min
Toward Peoria
17
Continue on IL 29
27 mi·31 min·IL 29
18
Continue on IL 29
273 ft·10 sec·North State Route 29
19
Arrive at destination
IL 29
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 147-mile trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the trip takes nearly three hours, departing early in the morning can help you avoid the heaviest traffic patterns near Chicago. Keep your navigation tools handy, as the transition between the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I-80 requires careful attention to signage. Because this route is predominantly highway-based, ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained speeds during that longest 64.2-mile stretch. Remember that the $22 fuel budget is an estimate, so keeping a small buffer for local driving once you arrive in Rome is a smart way to stay prepared.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.5 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.2 miles.
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 32 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.5 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rome, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 147 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Chicago, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 64.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 42.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|West Cermak Road
At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|South Halsted Street
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in
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
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive
8
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: St Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 53B
Toward I 55 South: St Louis
7
42.7 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 250B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.98 one way
$45.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.23
$50.47
premium
$4.89
$28.29
$56.58
diesel
$5.61
$32.46
$64.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.1
0
$15.43
$7.06
Efficient EV
36.8
0
$12.86
$5.88
EV Truck/SUV
58.8
0
$20.58
$9.41
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 16, 2026
Origin
Chicago, IL
Late night
in Chicago on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 to 15 mph39% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rome, IL
Late night
in Rome on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 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
2h 53m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 5.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 96% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend your time navigating a mix of expressways and state roads, anchored by a significant 64.2-mile stretch on I-80. While the drive is efficient, the character of the road shifts as you transition from the busy urban infrastructure of the Adlai Stevenson Expressway onto the more open stretches of I-80 and IL-29. It is a functional, no-nonsense commute that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, scenic backroads. Be prepared for a consistent pace behind the wheel that allows you to cover the distance effectively.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Cermak Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 147 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 0.2 miles (West Cermak Road): Navigation decision point; 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
717 ft466 ft
Total Climb
333 ft
Total Descent
452 ft
Highest Point
717 ft
~105 mi in
Elevation Range
251 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Chicago, IL to Rome, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 147 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.2 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 Rome, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Cermak Road): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 Rome, IL before heading back.
