Origin
Fox Lake, IL
Late night in Fox Lake on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fox Lake, 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 18m
Distance
54.7 mi
88 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fox Lake, IL
John Baker
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
Traveling from Fox Lake to Chicago covers 54.7 miles of Midwestern landscape, typically taking about 1 hour and 18 minutes. Since this journey is well under two hours, it is a straightforward day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $8 on fuel for the one-way trip. The route relies entirely on local roads like West Belvidere Road and West Half Day Road rather than major interstates. It is a practical commute that allows for significant flexibility in your schedule, making it an easy excursion for those looking to reach the city without the intensity of long-distance highway travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Edens Expressway | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| IL 60 | 10.6 mi | 17m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| US 12 | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| Edens Spur | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| US 45 | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| West Half Day Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Edens Expressway
— 13.7 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fox Lake, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on this road
67 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
58 ft
·
8 sec
3
Turn left onto US 12
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 12
4
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
6
Turn left onto IL 120
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Belvidere Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto IL 60
11 mi
·
17 min
·
IL 60
8
Continue on US 45
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 45
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on Olde Half Day Road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Olde Half Day Road
Use the left lane.
10
At end of road, turn left onto IL 22
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Half Day Road
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 94 East Toll: Indiana
12
Merge onto I 94
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Edens Spur
Toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
Use the slight left lane.
14
Continue on I 94; US 41
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Continue on I 90; I 94
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
19
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
20
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
21
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
22
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
23
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.4 miles from Fox Lake, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 53.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
5.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
IL 120 / West Belvidere Road
Turn left onto IL 120 / West Belvidere Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
21 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
IL 22 / West Half Day Road
At end of road, turn left onto IL 22 / West Half Day Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
26.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 94 / Edens Spur
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Edens Spur toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
7
53.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m 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
$8.55 one way
$17.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.39 | $18.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.53 | $21.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.08 | $24.15 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.18
Tri-state Tollway
(2.9 mi)
$0.18
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.63 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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
4:10 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
15 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 18m 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 that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Because this route features 0% highway travel, you will navigate through various local corridors rather than cruising at high speeds on an interstate. You will find that there is no single long-distance stretch on this drive, as the path is defined by the transitions between West Belvidere Road, Olde Half Day Road, and West Half Day Road. This character makes for a more technical driving experience compared to a standard freeway commute. Stay alert, as the winding nature of these local roads requires consistent attention to turns and changing traffic patterns.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.7 mi on Edens Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Edens Expressway and IL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.7 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (IL 120 / West Belvidere Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21 miles (IL 22 / West Half Day Road): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Fox Lake, IL
Full guide →Founded 1907
Fox Lake is a city in the Chain O' Lakes region of Chicagoland, Illinois.
Top landmarks
- • Mineola Hotel — old hotel building in Fox Lake, Illinois, USA
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 18m. Total distance: 54.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.7 miles on Edens Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.18 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (IL 120 / West Belvidere Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21 miles (IL 22 / West Half Day Road): 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.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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