Origin
East Dundee, IL
Late night in East Dundee on Tuesday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Dundee, IL to Chicago, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
41.2 mi
66 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Dundee, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from East Dundee to Chicago, you are looking at a 41-mile journey that typically takes about 53 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion, as it is short enough to complete without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel for the trek. You will be navigating entirely within the Midwest, moving from the suburban landscape of East Dundee into the heart of Chicago. Since this route involves zero highway driving, it functions as a straightforward local transit between the two points. It is a practical, no-nonsense commute that allows you to reach your destination in under an hour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 15.9 mi | 17m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| Higgins Road | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| West Higgins Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| West Higgins Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Cumberland flyover | 1 mi | 1m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Cumberland Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 15.9 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Dundee, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on this road
45 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto IL 72
261 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Continue on IL 72
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Higgins Road
4
Turn sharp left onto South Barrington Road
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Barrington Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 90 East Toll: Chicago
6
Merge onto I 90
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Toward Cumberland Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
526 ft
·
29 sec
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
9
Merge onto I 90
402 ft
·
4 sec
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
10
Take the exit onto Cumberland flyover
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Cumberland flyover
Exit 79A
Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
245 ft
·
8 sec
Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue
12
Turn right onto IL 171
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Cumberland Avenue
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on IL 171
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cumberland Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto IL 72
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Higgins Road
15
Turn right onto IL 72
326 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Oriole Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto IL 72
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
West Higgins Avenue
17
Turn right onto North Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Central Avenue
18
Turn left onto West Lawrence Avenue
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Lawrence Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
20
Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Montrose Avenue
21
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
22
Merge onto I 90; I 94
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Continue on I 90; I 94
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
25
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
26
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
27
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
28
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
29
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
30
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.6 miles from East Dundee, 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 255 decision points cluster between mile 23.4 and 40.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
23.4 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway toward Cumberland Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Cumberland Avenue
7
23.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Cumberland flyover
Take the exit onto Cumberland flyover toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 79A
Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue South
6
24.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
IL 171 / North Cumberland Avenue
Turn right onto IL 171 / North Cumberland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
29.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
West Lawrence Avenue
Turn left onto West Lawrence Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
40.2 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
$6.44 one way
$12.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.07 | $14.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.93 | $15.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.10 | $18.19 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.08
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(15.4 mi)
$1.08
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.4 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 | 12.4 | 0 | $4.33 | $1.98 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
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.
Destination
Chicago, IL
Late night in Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
4:38 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
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
1 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 1m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. Because the highway share for this 41-mile route is zero percent, you will spend the entire time navigating surface streets like East Main Street, Higgins Road, and South Barrington Road. You will not encounter any long, uninterrupted highway stretches, as the longest stretch is zero miles on East Main Street. The road's personality is defined by constant maneuvering through local intersections and turns. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention on local road conditions rather than the passive experience of highway travel.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.9 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 23.4 miles in near I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.2 miles you will encounter 25 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 23.4 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.9 miles (Cumberland flyover): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles (IL 171 / North Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
853 ft
588 ft
Total Climb
91 ft
Total Descent
272 ft
Highest Point
853 ft
~5.9 mi in
Elevation Range
265 ft
About the Cities
Starting in East Dundee, IL
Full guide →Founded 1871
Arriving 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
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 1h 1m. Total distance: 41.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.9 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.08 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams 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 23.4 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.9 miles (Cumberland flyover): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles (IL 171 / North Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chicago, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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