Gilman to Chicago is 87.5 miles and takes about 1h 46m via I 57 and the Dan Ryan Expressway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward Midwest drive keeps you within Illinois for the entire journey. Expect a functional, highway-focused experience as you head toward the major metropolitan area of Chicago. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.8 miles from Gilman, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
75.2 mi
1h 25m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
6.2 mi
8m
Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi
4m
East Crescent Street
1.1 mi
2m
County Road 1700 N
0.4 mi
<1m
West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
<1m
South Canalport Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 75.2 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilman, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on US 24; US 45
1.1 mi·2 min·East Crescent Street
2
Turn right onto US 24
0.4 mi·34 sec·County Road 1700 N
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I-57 North: Kankakee
4
Merge onto I 57
75 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
6.2 mi·8 min·Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 53AToward Canalport Avenue, Cermak RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street
243 ft·6 sec·South Ruble Street
9
Turn slight left
75 ft·4 sec
10
Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·South Canalport Avenue
11
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Halsted Street
12
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Cermak Road
13
Turn left
152 ft·11 sec
14
Turn right
0.2 mi·58 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short, single-day trip, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Gilman in the morning will likely get you into Chicago with plenty of daylight. With only 87.5 miles to cover and a duration of under two hours, you won't need to plan for extensive breaks, though rest stops are available along I 57 if needed. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you approach the Dan Ryan Expressway, as congestion can build up, especially during peak hours.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.8 miles from Gilman, IL, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.2 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.8 miles or 51m 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 26m
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 Gilman, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gilman, IL
This is one driving day of about 87.5 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Gilman, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 75.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 86.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I-57 North: Kankakee
Navigation decision point
Toward I-57 North: Kankakee
5
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
80.3 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
8
86.5 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
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 53A
Toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
4
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|South Canalport Avenue
Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.68 one way
$27.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.02
$30.04
premium
$4.89
$16.84
$33.68
diesel
$5.61
$19.32
$38.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.19
$4.20
Efficient EV
21.9
0
$7.66
$3.50
EV Truck/SUV
35
0
$12.25
$5.60
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Gilman, IL
Late night
in Gilman on Tuesday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chicago, IL
Late night
in Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
S 15 to 20 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 4:03PM CDT until April 17 at 4:15PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 4:01PM CDT until April 17 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
29 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 46m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I 57, which forms the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving at 75.2 miles. As you approach your destination, I 57 merges into the Dan Ryan Expressway, which is also referred to as the Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). Prepare for a consistent, high-speed travel experience with minimal deviations from the interstate.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.2 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 87.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.3 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 1h 46m. Total distance: 87.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.2 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.3 miles (I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chicago, IL before heading back.
