Origin
Niles, IL
Late night in Niles on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Niles, IL to Gardner, 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 33m
Distance
73.6 mi
118 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Niles, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Gardner, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
This 73.6-mile drive from Niles, IL to Gardner, IL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 33 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, with no need to split it into multiple days. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, making it an economical option. You'll primarily be on major expressways, offering a consistent travel experience. Given that both your origin and destination are in the Midwest region, you'll remain within familiar territory throughout this journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.8 miles from Niles, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 49.5 mi | 58m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 17.5 mi | 22m |
| West Touhy Avenue | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| West Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Waukegan Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| IL 53 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Milwaukee Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Des Plaines River Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 49.5 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Niles, IL and Gardner, IL.
1
Start on North Waukegan Road
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Waukegan Road
2
Continue on North Milwaukee Avenue
507 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
3
Turn right onto West Touhy Avenue
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
West Touhy Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road
184 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Des Plaines River Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 294 South: Indiana
6
Merge onto I 294
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 55
49 mi
·
58 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 227
Toward IL 53: Gardner
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto IL 53
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
IL 53
14
Continue on West Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
15
Turn right onto South Grundy Street
111 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Grundy Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Grundy Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1 hour and 33-minute drive, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. Consider departing earlier in the day to avoid potential commuter traffic, especially when navigating the initial stretches on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Tri-State Tollway. With a fuel cost of around $12, you won't need frequent stops, but it's always wise to top off your tank before you leave Niles, IL. Pay attention to signage as you transition between the mentioned main roads to ensure you stay on course for Gardner, IL.
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 36.8 miles from Niles, IL, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.5 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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.8 miles or 49m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gardner, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Niles, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Niles, IL
This is one driving day of about 73.6 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Niles, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 49.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.8 miles from Niles, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 72.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Touhy Avenue
Turn right onto West Touhy Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
20.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
7
22.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
7
72.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward IL 53: Gardner
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 227
Toward IL 53: Gardner
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.51 one way
$23.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.63 | $25.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.16 | $28.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.25 | $32.50 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.05
Tri-state Tollway
(17.5 mi)
$1.05
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
$12
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.30 | $4.71 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Gardner, IL
Late night in Gardner on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
8 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 33m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this route, with 68% of the journey taking place on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 49.5 miles along the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, so be prepared for consistent highway travel. While the profile suggests a predominantly highway experience, keep an eye out for transitions as you move between the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Tri-State Tollway, and West Touhy Avenue. This drive offers a consistent pace for much of its length.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.5 mi on Adlai Stevenson Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near West Touhy Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.5 miles (West Touhy Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Niles, IL to Gardner, IL, road signs begin pointing toward St. Louis along the way.
St. Louis
22 mi in
|
~30m
About the Cities
Arriving in Gardner, IL
Full guide →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 1h 33m. Total distance: 73.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.5 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.05 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 Gardner, 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 0.5 miles (West Touhy Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gardner, 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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