Origin
Gilberts, IL
Late night in Gilberts on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gilberts, 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 6m
Distance
47.3 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gilberts, IL
Mike Tyurin
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
Gilberts, IL to Chicago, IL is 47.3 miles and takes about 1h 6m via Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, moving from one Illinois community to another. Expect a drive that features frequent turns and a mix of highway and local road travel. With under an hour of driving time and a low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick, same-day excursion into the city.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 26 mi | 28m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| West Higgins Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| East Higgins Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Randall Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| West Higgins Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Cumberland flyover | 1 mi | 1m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 26 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilberts, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on IL 72
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East Higgins Road
2
Turn right onto CR 34
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Randall Road
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 90 East Toll: Chicago
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 90
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
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.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
526 ft
·
29 sec
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
7
Merge onto I 90
402 ft
·
4 sec
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
8
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.
9
Keep slight left at fork
245 ft
·
8 sec
Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue
10
Turn right onto IL 171
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Cumberland Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on IL 171
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cumberland Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto IL 72
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Higgins Road
13
Turn right onto IL 72
326 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Oriole Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto IL 72
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
West Higgins Avenue
15
Turn right onto North Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Central Avenue
16
Turn left onto West Lawrence Avenue
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Lawrence Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
18
Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Montrose Avenue
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
20
Merge onto I 90; I 94
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Continue on I 90; I 94
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
24
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
25
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
26
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
27
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
28
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Gilberts, 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 245 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 46.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left toward I 90 East Toll: Chicago
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 90 East Toll: Chicago
7
29.5 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
30 mi into trip
|
~35m 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
31.1 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
IL 171 / North Cumberland Avenue
Turn right onto IL 171 / North Cumberland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
46.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
$7.39 one way
$14.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.12 | $16.24 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.10 | $18.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.44 | $20.89 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.79
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(25.5 mi)
$1.79
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.62 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Chicago, IL
Late night in Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 15 mph
98% chance
Live forecast
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
17 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 6m 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?
This route is characterized by its turn-heavy local drive profile, meaning you'll encounter more frequent changes in direction than a straightforward highway journey. While 19% of the drive is on highways like the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and Kennedy Expressway, the overall feel is more about navigating local streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 26 miles on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, offering a brief period of consistent travel before transitioning back to more intricate road networks as you approach Chicago.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26 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 3.6 miles in.
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 47.3 miles you will encounter 24 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 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 29.5 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30 miles (Cumberland flyover): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 1h 6m. Total distance: 47.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.79 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 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 29.5 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30 miles (Cumberland flyover): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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