Origin
Mendota, IL
Morning in Mendota on Tuesday
Local time
8:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mendota, IL to Chicago, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 7m
Distance
106.1 mi
171 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 58m
★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 12m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mendota, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
Mendota, IL to Chicago, IL is 106.1 miles and takes about 2h 7m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and I 39, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. Most of the drive is on major tollways and interstates, making it a straightforward connection between two points in the state. Expect a fairly direct and efficient route for getting from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.1 miles from Mendota, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 61.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 39 | 24.6 mi | 26m |
| Eisenhower Expressway | 13.2 mi | 18m |
| North 43rd Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| 12th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 6th Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 61.8 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mendota, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on 7th Avenue
124 ft
·
7 sec
·
7th Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 34
403 ft
·
14 sec
·
6th Street
3
Turn left onto US 34
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
6th Avenue
4
Continue on US 34
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
12th Street
5
Continue on US 34
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North 43rd Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
7
Merge onto I 39; US 51
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 39; US 51
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 97A
Toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
9
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
56 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
14
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
17
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
18
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
19
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
20
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
21
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
This is a relatively short drive at just over two hours, so you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Mendota in the morning should get you into Chicago with plenty of daylight. With a longest stretch of 61.8 miles on the tollway, you can easily go most of the way before needing a break. The fuel cost is estimated at $17, so factor that into your budget. Keep an eye out for the transition from highway to surface roads as you get closer to Chicago.
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 53.1 miles from Mendota, IL, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.8 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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.1 miles or 1h 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 39m
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 Mendota, 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 Mendota, IL
This is one driving day of about 106.1 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Mendota, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 61.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.1 miles from Mendota, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.8 miles.
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 and 105.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 34 / 6th Street
Turn right onto US 34 / 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
3.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
6
84.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
104.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
7
105.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m 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
$16.59 one way
$33.18 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.21 | $36.42 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.42 | $40.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.43 | $46.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.71
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(61.8 mi)
$3.71
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
$17
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.14 | $5.09 |
| Efficient EV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.28 | $4.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.85 | $6.79 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Chicago, IL
Morning in Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
8:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
14 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
2h 7m 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?
You'll spend about 36% of this 106.1-mile drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway covering 61.8 miles. The route transitions from highway to surface roads, so be prepared for a change in driving environment. Expect to encounter dense exits as you approach the Chicago area.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.8 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 early in the drive near US 34 / 6th Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 106.1 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: near the start (US 34 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.8 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Mendota, IL
Full guide →Founded 1855
Arriving in Chicago, IL
Full guide →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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 106.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.71 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 34 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.8 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chicago, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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