If you are planning a trip from Loves Park to Chicago, you are looking at a manageable 88.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 51 minutes. Since the entire route stays within the Illinois Midwest, it is a straightforward trek that works perfectly as a one-day excursion. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel, making this an economical choice for a quick city visit. Because the trip is relatively short, there is no need to split this into an overnight stay. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this direct route provides a reliable connection between the two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.2 miles from Loves Park, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
65.7 mi
1h 11m
Kennedy Expressway
7.9 mi
11m
East Riverside Boulevard
4.7 mi
7m
West Higgins Avenue
2.7 mi
6m
West Higgins Road
1.1 mi
1m
Cumberland flyover
1 mi
1m
Dan Ryan Expressway
0.9 mi
1m
North Cumberland Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 65.7 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loves Park, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on IL 251
0.3 mi·36 sec·North 2nd Street
2
Turn left onto East Riverside Boulevard
4.7 mi·7 min·East Riverside Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
4
Merge onto I 39; I 90; US 51
4.3 mi·4 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
20 mi·21 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
41 mi·43 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90
0.3 mi·21 sec·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Toward Cumberland AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
526 ft·29 sec·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
9
Merge onto I 90
402 ft·4 sec·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
10
Take the exit onto Cumberland flyover
1.0 mi·1 min·Cumberland flyover
Exit 79AToward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
245 ft·8 sec
Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue
12
Turn right onto IL 171
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Cumberland Avenue
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on IL 171
0.4 mi·1 min·North Cumberland Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto IL 72
1.1 mi·1 min·West Higgins Road
15
Turn right onto IL 72
326 ft·13 sec·North Oriole Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto IL 72
2.7 mi·6 min·West Higgins Avenue
17
Turn right onto North Central Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·North Central Avenue
18
Turn left onto West Lawrence Avenue
0.4 mi·42 sec·West Lawrence Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North Milwaukee Avenue
20
Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West Montrose Avenue
21
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
22
Merge onto I 90; I 94
7.9 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Continue on I 90; I 94
0.9 mi·1 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 52CToward 18th StreetUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Union Avenue
26
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft·12 sec·South Canalport Avenue
27
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Halsted Street
28
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Cermak Road
29
Turn left
152 ft·11 sec
30
Turn right
0.2 mi·58 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this route transitions into high-traffic urban areas, timing your departure is key to avoiding peak congestion on the Kennedy Expressway. Since the total drive time is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your day without worrying about long-distance fatigue. You will find that the 88.5-mile distance is short enough to complete in one go, so there is no immediate need for planned stops unless you prefer a break. Keep your $13 fuel budget in mind when filling up before you leave Loves Park, as city gas prices can vary once you arrive. Staying alert during the transition from the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway into the city will help you navigate the final segments of your trip smoothly.
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 44.2 miles from Loves Park, IL, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 44.2 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 28m
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 Loves Park, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Loves Park, IL
This is one driving day of about 88.5 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Loves Park, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 65.7 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.7 and 87.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.7 mi into trip|~13m in|I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
30 mi into trip|~35m in|I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
70.6 mi into trip|~1h 19m 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
71.1 mi into trip|~1h 20m 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
7
87.4 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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
$13.84 one way
$27.67 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.19
$30.38
premium
$4.89
$17.03
$34.06
diesel
$5.61
$19.54
$39.08
Estimated Tolls: $4.56
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(60.9 mi)$4.26
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(4.3 mi)$0.30
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 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
26.6
0
$9.29
$4.25
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.74
$3.54
EV Truck/SUV
35.4
0
$12.39
$5.66
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 18, 2026
Origin
Loves Park, IL
Morning
in Loves Park on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chicago, IL
Morning
in Chicago on Sunday
Local time
9:18 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
22 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 51m 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 88.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is a turn-heavy local route that transitions into a more structured highway experience. You will spend about 10% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 65.7 miles along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Starting on East Riverside Boulevard, you will eventually merge onto the Kennedy Expressway to reach your destination. While the initial portions of the drive require more focus due to local navigation, the tollway section offers a faster, more consistent pace. Expect the driving environment to shift from regional roads to the high-traffic urban corridors typical of the approach to Chicago.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.7 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 9.7 miles in near I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.5 miles you will encounter 25 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 9.7 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.6 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 51m. Total distance: 88.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.7 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.56 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 9.7 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.6 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
