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Trip from Niles, IL to Bridgeport, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

26m

Distance

17.9 mi

29 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 24m ★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Niles, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Bridgeport, IL, IL

Bridgeport, IL

Mike Tyurin

Trip Overview

Niles, IL to Bridgeport, IL is 17.9 miles and takes about 26m via Kennedy Expressway and Dan Ryan Expressway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest region. Given its brief distance and primarily highway profile, it’s a straightforward drive ideal for getting from one area to another efficiently. You'll likely find it a practical choice for a quick commute or a connecting leg of a longer journey without much fuss.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Kennedy Expressway 8.1 mi 11m
North Caldwell Avenue 2.9 mi 4m
Dan Ryan Expressway 2.4 mi 2m
Edens Expressway 2.1 mi 2m
West 31st Street 1 mi 2m
West Howard Street 0.6 mi 1m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Local) 0.3 mi <1m
South Wentworth Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Kennedy Expressway — 8.1 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Niles, IL and Bridgeport, IL.

1

Start on North Waukegan Road

14 ft · 4 sec · North Waukegan Road
2

Turn right onto West Howard Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Howard Street
3

Turn right onto US 14

2.9 mi · 4 min · North Caldwell Avenue
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 94 East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Merge onto I 94

2.1 mi · 2 min · Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 90; I 94

8.1 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7

Continue on I 90; I 94

2.4 mi · 2 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 90; I 94

0.3 mi · 21 sec · Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
Toward I 90, I 94 Use the slight right lane.
9

Take the exit

495 ft · 12 sec
Exit 54 Toward 31st Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Turn straight onto South Wentworth Avenue

0.2 mi · 20 sec · South Wentworth Avenue
11

Turn right onto West 31st Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · West 31st Street
12

Arrive at destination

West 31st Street

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 16.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Howard Street

Turn right onto West Howard Street

Navigation decision point

5
3.5 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp toward I 94 East

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 94 East
5
3.7 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 94 / Edens Expressway

Merge onto I 94 / Edens Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.4 mi into trip | ~23m in | I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)

Keep slight right at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Local) toward I 90, I 94

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 90, I 94
7
16.7 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the exit toward 31st Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 54 Toward 31st Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.73 one way

$5.46 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.27 $3.01 $6.02
premium $4.81 $3.39 $6.77
diesel $5.40 $3.81 $7.62

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.4 0 $1.88 $0.86
Efficient EV 4.5 0 $1.57 $0.72
EV Truck/SUV 7.2 0 $2.51 $1.15

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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.

Forecast as of Apr 26, 2026

Origin

Niles, IL

Morning in Niles on Sunday

Local time

11:04 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Patchy Fog

ENE 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:59AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:55AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Destination

Bridgeport, IL

Morning in Bridgeport on Sunday

Local time

11:04 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny

E 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:59AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:55AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

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

2 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

26m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is mostly highway, with 72% of the drive on expressways like the Kennedy Expressway and Dan Ryan Expressway. You'll encounter your longest stretch of uninterrupted driving for 8.1 miles on the Kennedy Expressway. Expect to transition from highway to surface streets for the remainder of your trip, which means a change in traffic patterns and potentially more frequent intersections as you approach Bridgeport.

72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.1 mi on Kennedy Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Kennedy Expressway and North Caldwell Avenue. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Howard Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 17.9 miles you will encounter 7 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: near the start (West Howard Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 94 / Edens Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Niles, IL

Full guide →

Niles is a city of 30,912 (2020) in Illinois.

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 26m. Total distance: 17.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 8.1 miles on Kennedy Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 4 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 Bridgeport, 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: near the start (West Howard Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (I 94 / Edens Expressway): 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bridgeport, 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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