Traveling from Germantown Hills to Chicago covers 142.6 miles, a journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 34 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip within the Midwest, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion rather than an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $21 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Since the route involves no major highway stretches, it functions as a local commute across the Illinois landscape. You will find that the lack of required stops gives you total control over your schedule, making it easy to plan your arrival in the city. Overall, this drive is a straightforward transit between two familiar Illinois locations.
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
74.9 miles from Germantown Hills, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
99.8 mi
1h 54m
East State Street
11.8 mi
17m
West Main Street
9.2 mi
14m
East 3100 North Road
7 mi
9m
Boyd Parkway
6.9 mi
10m
Nofsinger Road
3.8 mi
6m
Stevenson Expressway
3.6 mi
4m
State Route 116
2.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 99.8 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Germantown Hills, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on IL 116
0.3 mi·33 sec·State Route 116
2
Continue on IL 116
2.2 mi·4 min·State Route 116
3
Turn right onto Nofsinger Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Nofsinger Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto Tazewood Road
73 ft·4 sec·Tazewood Road
5
Turn right onto Nofsinger Road
1.8 mi·3 min·Nofsinger Road
6
Turn left onto US 24
6.9 mi·10 min·Boyd Parkway
7
Continue on US 24
2.0 mi·3 min·West Center Street
8
Continue on US 24
12 mi·17 min·East State Street
9
Continue on US 24
9.2 mi·14 min·West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 24
7.0 mi·9 min·East 3100 North Road
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 55 North: Joliet
12
Merge onto I 55
100 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 55
3.6 mi·4 min·Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 290Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward Damen AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
440 ft·12 sec
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen AvenueUse the left lane.
17
Turn straight onto South Damen Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·South Damen Avenue
18
Turn right onto South Blue Island Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Blue Island Avenue
19
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.8 mi·1 min·West Cermak Road
20
Turn right
152 ft·11 sec
21
Turn right
0.2 mi·58 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the local nature of this route, your biggest advantage is flexibility in your departure time. Since there are no mandatory stops required to reach your destination, you can easily tailor the journey to fit your personal agenda. Keep in mind that as you move from Germantown Hills toward Chicago, local traffic patterns may fluctuate, so checking your GPS for real-time turn updates is a smart move. Budget your $21 fuel cost ahead of time so you aren't searching for stations in unfamiliar areas. A practical tip: because this is a turn-heavy route without long highway stretches, try to break up the drive by planning a quick rest just past the halfway point to stay refreshed behind the wheel.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.9 miles from Germantown Hills, IL, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.8 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 33 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.9 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 38m
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 Germantown Hills, 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 Germantown Hills, IL
This is one driving day of about 149.8 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Germantown Hills, 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 I 55 for about 99.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.4 and 147.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.4 mi into trip|~7m in|Tazewood Road
At end of road, turn left onto Tazewood Road
Navigation decision point
5
43.2 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 North: Joliet
Navigation decision point
Toward I 55 North: Joliet
8
147 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Take the exit toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 290
Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue
8
147.1 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Damen Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Damen Avenue
9
147.4 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.42 one way
$46.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.71
$51.43
premium
$4.89
$28.83
$57.66
diesel
$5.61
$33.07
$66.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.9
0
$15.73
$7.19
Efficient EV
37.5
0
$13.11
$5.99
EV Truck/SUV
59.9
0
$20.97
$9.59
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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
Germantown Hills, IL
Morning
in Germantown Hills on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chicago, IL
Morning
in Chicago on Sunday
Local time
10:57 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
23 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
3h 13m 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 144.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way toward Chicago. This route bypasses traditional high-speed interstates entirely, meaning you will be dealing with local roads for the full duration of the 142.6-mile trip. With a highway share of 0%, your focus will be on navigating turns and local traffic flow rather than maintaining steady cruise control. There is no single longest stretch of road to prepare for, as the path requires consistent attention to changing directions. This is not a monotonous highway grind; instead, it is an active, hands-on driving experience that demands your engagement throughout the entire 2 hour and 34 minute transit.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.8 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and East State Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in near Tazewood Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 149.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.4 miles (Tazewood Road): Navigation decision point; at 43.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 147 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3h 13m. Total distance: 149.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.8 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 4.4 miles (Tazewood Road): Navigation decision point; at 43.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 147 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Chicago, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
