Traveling from Martinsville to Chicago covers 208.7 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 35 minutes of driving time. Because this is a straightforward trek within the Illinois Midwest, it functions perfectly as a single-day trip, meaning you do not need to worry about booking overnight accommodations along the way. You should budget approximately $31 for fuel to complete the journey. While the distance is manageable, the drive is characterized as a turn-heavy local route rather than a direct interstate sprint. Knowing that you will be navigating local roads helps you set realistic expectations for your travel time. It is a practical route for those heading north from the rural parts of the state toward the urban center.
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
111.7 miles from Martinsville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
168.6 mi
3h 5m
I 70
16 mi
17m
Route 130
10 mi
14m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
6.2 mi
8m
Illinois Route 16
5.3 mi
7m
Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi
4m
Lincoln Avenue
2.5 mi
4m
County Road 1825 E
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 168.6 mi, about 3h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Martinsville, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on Cereus Lane
461 ft·22 sec·Cereus Lane
2
Turn right onto North York Street
0.9 mi·1 min·North York Street
3
Continue on North Cleone Road
0.9 mi·1 min·North Cleone Road
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·46 sec
5
Merge onto I 70
16 mi·17 min·I 70
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward IL 130
7
Turn right onto IL 130
0.1 mi·9 sec·North Haughton Highway
8
Continue on IL 130
1.3 mi·1 min·1700E
9
Continue on IL 130
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Haughton Highway
10
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·County Road 1775 E
11
Continue on IL 130
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 1825 E
12
Continue on IL 130
10.0 mi·14 min·Route 130
13
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·Illinois Route 130
14
Continue on IL 130
1.6 mi·2 min·18th Street
15
Turn left onto IL 16
2.5 mi·4 min·Lincoln Avenue
16
Continue on IL 16
5.3 mi·7 min·Illinois Route 16
17
Continue on IL 16
0.4 mi·38 sec·Charleston Avenue East
18
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
19
Merge onto I 57
169 mi·3 hr 5 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
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
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 53AToward Canalport Avenue, Cermak RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street
243 ft·6 sec·South Ruble Street
24
Turn slight left
75 ft·4 sec
25
Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·South Canalport Avenue
26
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Halsted Street
27
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Cermak Road
28
Turn left
152 ft·11 sec
29
Turn right
0.2 mi·58 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 35 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. Because there are no scheduled stops in the route data, you should proactively map out your own breaks to stay refreshed while navigating these local roads. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route can make the drive feel longer than the mileage suggests, so factor in extra time for rest if you are traveling with passengers. Since fuel costs are estimated at $31, checking your levels before you leave Martinsville is a smart way to ensure a smooth, worry-free start. Use the lack of designated stops to your advantage by choosing your own preferred locations for a quick stretch or a snack.
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 111.7 miles from Martinsville, IL, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 168.6 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 49 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.7 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 33m
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 Martinsville, 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 Martinsville, IL
This is one driving day of about 223.3 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Martinsville, 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 I 57 for about 168.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 222.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North York Street
Turn right onto North York Street
Navigation decision point
5
18.6 mi into trip|~22m in|IL 130 / North Haughton Highway
Turn right onto IL 130 / North Haughton Highway
Navigation decision point
5
44.2 mi into trip|~1h in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
216.1 mi into trip|~4h 11m 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
222.3 mi into trip|~4h 19m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.91 one way
$69.82 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.33
$76.66
premium
$4.89
$42.97
$85.94
diesel
$5.61
$49.30
$98.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67
0
$23.45
$10.72
Efficient EV
55.8
0
$19.54
$8.93
EV Truck/SUV
89.3
1
$31.26
$14.29
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Martinsville, IL
Late night
in Martinsville on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chicago, IL
Late night
in Chicago on Sunday
Local time
3:00 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
8 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
4h 23m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 207.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a departure from high-speed interstate travel, as this route is defined by its turn-heavy local road profile. Since the highway share is 0%, your focus will remain on navigating secondary roads rather than cruising along a wide-open freeway. You will find that the rhythm of the drive changes frequently due to the constant turning, requiring more active attention than a typical highway grind. This setup creates a more hands-on driving experience that differs significantly from major arterial road travel. Without long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, you will feel the transitions between the various local segments as you progress through the Illinois landscape.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 168.6 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 70. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North York Street.
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 223.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (North York Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.6 miles (IL 130 / North Haughton Highway): Navigation decision point; at 44.2 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 4h 23m. Total distance: 223.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 168.6 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North York Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.6 miles (IL 130 / North Haughton Highway): Navigation decision point; at 44.2 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Chicago, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
