If you are planning to travel from Davis Junction to Chicago, expect a straightforward journey covering 93.2 miles. You can comfortably complete this trip in about 1 hour and 38 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $14 for fuel will cover your transit costs between these two Midwestern points. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you have the flexibility to drive straight through or build in your own breaks along the way. This route serves as a practical connection between rural Ogle County and the heart of the city, keeping your travel time well under two hours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.8 miles from Davis Junction, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
62.3 mi
1h 11m
I 39
13.6 mi
14m
Eisenhower Expressway
13.2 mi
18m
East Chicago Avenue
3.5 mi
5m
Dan Ryan Expressway
0.8 mi
1m
West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
<1m
South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 62.3 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Davis Junction, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on Union Street
86 ft·8 sec·Union Street
2
Turn left onto IL 72
3.5 mi·5 min·East Chicago Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
4
Merge onto I 39; US 51
14 mi·14 min·I 39; US 51
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 97AToward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
6
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
56 mi·1 hr 3 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
6.0 mi·7 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
13 mi·18 min·Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
11
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.8 mi·1 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 52CToward 18th StreetUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Union Avenue
14
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft·12 sec·South Canalport Avenue
15
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Halsted Street
16
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Cermak Road
17
Turn left
152 ft·11 sec
18
Turn right
0.2 mi·58 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic, as navigating turn-heavy local roads is significantly more relaxing when they are less congested. Since the drive is short, you do not need to worry about complex refueling strategies; just ensure you have your $14 fuel budget accounted for before heading out. Take advantage of the flexibility this 93.2-mile distance offers by packing your own snacks or drinks, as you won't need to make any forced stops for supplies. My best tip is to keep a GPS map active at all times, given the frequency of turns you will encounter on these local roads. Enjoy the straightforward nature of this quick transition between the rural landscape and the city environment.
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 47.8 miles from Davis Junction, IL, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.3 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.8 miles or 55m 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 Chicago, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Davis Junction, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Davis Junction, IL
This is one driving day of about 95.5 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Davis Junction, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 62.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.5 and 94.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
17.5 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the exit toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 97A
Toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
5
17.9 mi into trip|~21m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
74.2 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
93.5 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
7
94.5 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward 18th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.93 one way
$29.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.39
$32.79
premium
$4.89
$18.38
$36.76
diesel
$5.61
$21.09
$42.17
Estimated Tolls: $3.74
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(62.3 mi)$3.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.7
0
$10.03
$4.58
Efficient EV
23.9
0
$8.36
$3.82
EV Truck/SUV
38.2
0
$13.37
$6.11
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Davis Junction, IL
Late night
in Davis Junction on Sunday
Local time
2:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chicago, IL
Late night
in Chicago on Sunday
Local time
2:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 15 mph98% chanceLive 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
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
3 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
1h 56m 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 95.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route requires constant navigation through shifting local roads rather than high-speed highway stretches. Because the highway share is 0%, you should anticipate a more involved driving experience compared to cruising on a major thoroughfare. The path maintains a steady pace, but the lack of long, uninterrupted stretches means you will be navigating intersections and turns throughout the duration of the trip. Stay alert as you transition from the quieter surroundings of Davis Junction toward the denser road network approaching Chicago.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.3 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 17.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 95.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 17.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.2 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 56m. Total distance: 95.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.3 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.74 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Chicago, 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 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 17.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.2 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): 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 Chicago, IL before heading back.
