Clifton to Niles is 88.3 miles and takes about 1h 50m via I 57 and expressways, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. The majority of this route is on major highways, making it a straightforward drive. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, this is a great option for a day trip or a quick commute.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.1 miles from Clifton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
61.6 mi
1h 11m
Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
11m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi
11m
Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi
4m
North Caldwell Avenue
3 mi
4m
Edens Expressway
2.2 mi
2m
West Howard Street
0.6 mi
1m
East 2900 North Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 61.6 mi, about 1h 11m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 3 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~8,925 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,444 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, IL and Niles, IL.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.5 mi·54 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto East 2900 North Road
0.5 mi·1 min·East 2900 North Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward I-57 North: Kankakee
4
Merge onto I 57
62 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
7.9 mi·11 min·Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 94
2.2 mi·2 min·Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 41AToward US 14 West: Caldwell AvenueUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn slight right onto US 14
3.0 mi·4 min·North Caldwell Avenue
11
Turn left onto West Howard Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Howard Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto North Waukegan Road
14 ft·0 sec·North Waukegan Road
13
Arrive at destination
North Waukegan Road
Trip Plan
This 1h 50m drive is easily manageable in one day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Clifton in the morning or early afternoon should get you to Niles with plenty of daylight. Since it's a shorter drive, you won't need many lengthy stops, but consider a brief break around the halfway point if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $15, and it's always wise to fill up before embarking on the final urban stretch into Niles.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.1 miles from Clifton, IL, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.6 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.1 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Niles, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clifton, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clifton, IL
This is one driving day of about 88.3 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Clifton, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 61.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 87.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip|~0m in|East 2900 North Road
Turn left onto East 2900 North Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
66.2 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
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: Pershing Roa...
7
84.4 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41A
Toward US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue
6
87.7 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|West Howard Street
Turn left onto West Howard Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.47 one way
$26.94 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$14.84
$29.67
premium
$4.81
$16.71
$33.41
diesel
$5.40
$18.78
$37.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.5
0
$9.27
$4.24
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.73
$3.53
EV Truck/SUV
35.3
0
$12.36
$5.65
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 25, 2026
Origin
Clifton, IL
Evening
in Clifton on Saturday
Local time
8:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Niles, IL
Evening
in Niles on Saturday
Local time
8:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
NNE 15 mph24% chanceLive 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
15 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 50m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mostly highway experience, with 94% of this 88.3-mile drive on major roads. The longest stretch you'll encounter is 61.6 miles on I 57. You'll transition from highway cruising to urban expressways like the Kennedy Expressway and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) as you approach Niles. Be prepared for dense exits and potential merging traffic in the metropolitan area.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.6 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Kennedy Expressway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near East 2900 North Road.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.5 miles (East 2900 North Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.2 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 88.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.6 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 0.5 miles (East 2900 North Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.2 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): 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 Niles, IL before heading back.
