Gurnee, IL to York, IL is 253.3 miles and takes about 5h 45m via SR 63 and US 41, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing the familiar landscapes of Illinois. The route offers a mixed highway and surface road experience, making it suitable for a single-day excursion. It's a straightforward drive that doesn't require extensive planning, perfect if you're looking for a relatively quick trip without venturing too far from home.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
126.6 miles from Gurnee, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
SR 63
59.1 mi
1h 15m
Wicker Avenue
58.8 mi
1h 18m
US 41
21.6 mi
26m
IL 1
18 mi
27m
Edens Expressway
13.7 mi
17m
Skokie Highway
13.5 mi
15m
Bishop Ford Freeway
10.8 mi
14m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
9.6 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
SR 63
— 59.1 mi, about 1h 15m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~8,925 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,444 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gurnee, IL and York, IL.
1
Start on North Greenleaf Street
92 ft·7 sec·North Greenleaf Street
2
Turn right onto IL 132
0.3 mi·25 sec·Grand Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 41 South: ChicagoUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto US 41
9.7 mi·11 min·Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi·3 min·Skokie Valley Road
6
Continue on US 41
3.8 mi·4 min·Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 94; US 41
14 mi·17 min·Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.1 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Continue on I 90; I 94
2.4 mi·2 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
8.8 mi·11 min·Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 ExpressUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
11 mi·14 min·Bishop Ford Freeway
Toward I 94 East: IndianaUse the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
1.1 mi·1 min·I 94
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East: IndianaUse the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·43 sec
Exit 161Toward US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence AvenueUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 161Toward US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence AvenueUse the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
502 ft·12 sec
Toward IL 83 South
16
Turn straight onto IL 83
3.7 mi·5 min·Torrence Avenue
17
Turn left onto IL 83
1.8 mi·2 min·Glenwood Dyer Road
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 30
1.0 mi·2 min·Lincoln Highway
19
Continue on US 30
2.7 mi·5 min·Joliet Street
20
Continue on US 30
0.1 mi·20 sec·West Lincoln Highway
21
Turn right onto US 41
59 mi·1 hr 18 min·Wicker Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
22 mi·26 min·US 41
23
Continue on SR 63
59 mi·1 hr 15 min·SR 63
24
Turn right
0.3 mi·1 min
25
Continue on Pennington Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Pennington Road
26
Turn left onto US 150
4.5 mi·6 min·US 150
27
Continue on US 150
1.9 mi·2 min·N 3rd Street
28
Turn right onto West National Avenue
3.5 mi·5 min·West National Avenue
29
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·46 sec
30
Merge onto I 70; US 40
9.6 mi·10 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
31
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward IL 1: Marshall, Paris
32
Turn left onto IL 1
18 mi·27 min·IL 1
33
Turn sharp left onto East 150th Road
1.9 mi·7 min·East 150th Road
34
Continue on West Broadway Street
0.2 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
35
Turn left onto North York Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·North York Street
36
Arrive at destination
North York Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 45m estimated duration, leaving Gurnee, IL in the morning should allow you to reach York, IL well before evening. With only one recommended stop and a manageable 253.3 miles, you can take your time or push through in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $40; it's always wise to fill up before you hit longer stretches, like the 59.1 miles on SR 63. The mixed highway and surface road nature means you'll encounter varying speed limits, so stay aware of changing conditions.
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 126.6 miles from Gurnee, IL, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.1 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 56 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.6 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near York, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gurnee, 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 Gurnee, IL
This is one driving day of about 253.3 miles and 5h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Gurnee, 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 SR 63 for about 59.1 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 41.7 and 63 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
41.7 mi into trip|~52m in|I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
7
50.5 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway toward I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 94 East: Indiana
8
61.3 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 80 East, I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East: Indiana
9
62.4 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161
Toward US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue
9
63 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 161
Toward US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.41 one way
$74.81 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.30
$82.59
premium
$4.72
$47.03
$94.06
diesel
$4.80
$47.83
$95.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76
0
$26.60
$12.16
Efficient EV
63.3
0
$22.16
$10.13
EV Truck/SUV
101.3
1
$35.46
$16.21
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Gurnee, IL
Late night
in Gurnee on Monday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
WSW 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
York, IL
Late night
in York on Monday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 6 to 12 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:50AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:04AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM 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
15 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
5h 45m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 253.3-mile drive balances highway cruising with surface street driving, with 58% of the route on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 59.1 miles on SR 63, offering a good opportunity for consistent speed. Expect a mixed profile, transitioning between faster-paced highway sections and more stop-and-go surface roads as you approach your destination. The density of exits and intersections will likely increase as you get closer to York, IL.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.1 mi on SR 63.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 41.7 miles in near I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express).
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 253.3 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 41.7 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.3 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
776 ft451 ft
Total Climb
335 ft
Total Descent
561 ft
Highest Point
776 ft
~144.7 mi in
Elevation Range
324 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gurnee, IL to York, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Paris along the way.
Gurnee is a village in Illinois. It sits at the midpoint between Chicago and Milwaukee. It's best known as the home of the Six Flags Great America amusement park, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago water park, the Gurnee Mills shopping mall, and a Great Wolf Lodge location. As such, Gurnee sees over 23 million visitors every year.
Top landmarks
•Goliath (Six Flags Great America) — wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois
•The Flash: Vertical Velocity — amusement ride in Six Flags Great America
•Shockwave — roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 45m. Total distance: 253.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.1 miles on SR 63. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 York, 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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 41.7 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.3 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at York, IL before the return drive.
