Origin
Lake Zurich, IL
Morning in Lake Zurich on Sunday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Zurich, IL to Calumet City, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
61 mi
98 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Zurich, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Calumet City, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 66.3-mile drive from Lake Zurich, IL, to Calumet City, IL, is an easy one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 22 minutes. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with no highway driving involved, so expect a more turn-heavy experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $10, making it an economical option for exploring the Midwest. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is perfect for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. Plan for a leisurely pace as you traverse familiar Illinois terrain.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 22 mi | 28m |
| IL 53 | 11.3 mi | 14m |
| I 290 | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| West Sibley Boulevard | 5.5 mi | 9m |
| Rand Road | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| West 147th Street | 3 mi | 5m |
| North Rand Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Mile-Long Bridge | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 22 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Zurich, IL and Calumet City, IL.
1
Start on North Old Rand Road
68 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Old Rand Road
2
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on IL 22
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
West Main Street
4
Turn left onto Ela Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Ela Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto US 12
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Rand Road
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on US 12
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Rand Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward IL 53 South
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto IL 53
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
IL 53
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
I 290
Toward I 290 East: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 15A
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 294
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Exit 15A
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
14
Merge onto I 294
137 ft
·
1 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 294
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mile-Long Bridge
18
Continue on I 294
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8
Toward IL 83: 147th Street, Sibley Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto IL 83
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West 147th Street
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on IL 83
5.5 mi
·
9 min
·
West Sibley Boulevard
22
Turn right onto Wentworth Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wentworth Avenue
23
Turn left onto Pulaski Road
114 ft
·
3 sec
·
Pulaski Road
24
Arrive at destination
Pulaski Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.5 miles from Lake Zurich, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 51.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Ela Road
Turn left onto Ela Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
7.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward IL 53 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 53 South
8
12.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
8
28.3 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
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 15A
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
51.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward IL 83: 147th Street, Sibley Boulevard
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 8
Toward IL 83: 147th Street, Sibley Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.54 one way
$19.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.47 | $20.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.74 | $23.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.47 | $26.94 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.32
Tri-state Tollway
(22 mi)
$1.32
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$1
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.34 | $2.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.54 | $3.90 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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
Calumet City, IL
Morning in Calumet City on Sunday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
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
20 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 26m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 as a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll be making frequent turns and navigating through more developed areas rather than open highways. With a 0% highway share, you won't encounter any high-speed interstate segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the profile suggests a continuous series of local roads. Be prepared for a driving experience that requires constant attention to navigation and traffic signals as you wind your way through towns and residential areas. The road character remains consistent, focusing on local connectivity rather than long-distance travel.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.7 miles in near Ela Road.
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 61 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.7 miles (Ela Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Lake Zurich, IL to Calumet City, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.
Indiana
28.3 mi in
|
~38m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 61 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.32 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 Calumet City, 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 0.7 miles (Ela Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles (IL 53): 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Calumet City, 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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