Origin
Forreston, IL
Late night in Forreston on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forreston, 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
2h 30m
Distance
115.3 mi
186 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 21m
★
6 AM
2h 31m
8 AM
2h 51m
10 AM
2h 38m
12 PM
2h 36m
3 PM
2h 39m
5 PM
2h 50m
8 PM
2h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forreston, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
Forreston to Chicago is 115.3 miles and takes about 2h 30m via Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, IL 72, and West Blackhawk Drive, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region toward the major metropolitan area of Chicago. With a relatively short drive time and manageable fuel costs, it's a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. The route is predominantly surface roads, offering a less hurried pace than a pure interstate experience. Consider this if you're looking for a practical and economical way to get from a more rural setting into the city.
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
57.6 miles from Forreston, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 60.9 mi | 1h 5m |
| IL 72 | 15.2 mi | 22m |
| West Blackhawk Drive | 11.9 mi | 17m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| U.S. Grant Memorial Highway | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| West Higgins Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| West Higgins Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Cumberland flyover | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 60.9 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forreston, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on IL 26
16 ft
·
7 sec
·
1st Avenue
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Continue on IL 72
15 mi
·
22 min
·
IL 72
4
At end of road, turn left onto IL 2; IL 72
12 mi
·
17 min
·
West Blackhawk Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Turn left onto IL 2
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto US 20
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 39; US 51
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 39; US 51
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 East: Chicago
10
Merge onto I 90
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
41 mi
·
43 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
526 ft
·
29 sec
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
14
Merge onto I 90
402 ft
·
4 sec
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
15
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.
16
Keep slight left at fork
245 ft
·
8 sec
Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue
17
Turn right onto IL 171
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Cumberland Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on IL 171
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cumberland Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto IL 72
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Higgins Road
20
Turn right onto IL 72
326 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Oriole Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto IL 72
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
West Higgins Avenue
22
Turn right onto North Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Central Avenue
23
Turn left onto West Lawrence Avenue
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Lawrence Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
25
Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Montrose Avenue
26
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
27
Merge onto I 90; I 94
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
28
Continue on I 90; I 94
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
30
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
31
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
32
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
33
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
34
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
35
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 30m estimated duration, leaving Forreston in the morning should allow you to reach Chicago with plenty of time to spare. With only one stop suggested, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself; however, plan for potential traffic delays as you get closer to Chicago, especially during peak hours. The fuel cost is estimated at $18, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you depart. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transition from the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway to IL 72, as this is where the driving experience will significantly change.
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 57.6 miles from Forreston, IL, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.9 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 25 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.6 miles or 1h 15m 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 55m
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 Forreston, 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 Forreston, IL
This is one driving day of about 115.3 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Forreston, 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 Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 60.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.6 miles from Forreston, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Jane Addams Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.9 miles.
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 295 decision points cluster between mile 15.6 and 114.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
15.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
IL 2; IL 72 / West Blackhawk Drive
At end of road, turn left onto IL 2; IL 72 / West Blackhawk Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
28.3 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
97.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m 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
98 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m 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
7
114.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m 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
$18.03 one way
$36.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.79 | $39.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.19 | $44.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.46 | $50.91 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.22
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(60.4 mi)
$4.22
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
$18
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.11 | $5.53 |
| Efficient EV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.09 | $4.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.1 | 0 | $16.14 | $7.38 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Chicago, IL
Late night in Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
2 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 30m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with about 21% on highways. You'll experience a 60.9-mile stretch on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway before transitioning to surface streets. Expect a mix of cruising and navigating through more developed areas as you approach Chicago. The prevalence of surface roads means you'll likely encounter more local traffic and varied speed limits.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.9 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 15.6 miles in near IL 2; IL 72 / West Blackhawk Drive.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 115.3 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 15.6 miles (IL 2; IL 72 / West Blackhawk Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 97.4 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
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 2h 30m. Total distance: 115.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.9 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.22 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.
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 15.6 miles (IL 2; IL 72 / West Blackhawk Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 97.4 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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