Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
54.6 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Niles, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Manhattan, IL
Federico Abis
Niles, IL to Manhattan, IL is 54.6 miles and takes about 1h 16m via Veterans Memorial Tollway, Tri-State Tollway, and Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest region, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward trip within the state. It's primarily a surface road drive after the initial tollway segments, suggesting you'll encounter local traffic and town crossings rather than uninterrupted highway cruising. Given the short distance and duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 19.9 mi | 22m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 10.5 mi | 14m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Gougar Road | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| West Touhy Avenue | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| West North Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Manhattan Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Maple Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Niles, IL and Manhattan, IL.
Start on North Waukegan Road
Continue on North Milwaukee Avenue
Turn right onto West Touhy Avenue
Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 294
Take the exit onto I 294
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
Continue on I 294
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
Take the exit
Merge onto I 355
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 6
Turn left onto CH 52
At end of road, turn right onto East Laraway Road
Turn left onto Cherry Hill Road
Turn left onto US 52
Continue on US 52
Continue on US 52
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.3 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.4 and 22 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 355 South: Joliet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$8.33 one way
$16.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $9.17 | $18.35 |
| premium | $4.81 | $10.33 | $20.66 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $11.61 | $23.23 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.42
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.73 | $2.62 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.78 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.64 | $3.49 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Niles on Saturday
Local time
8:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Evening in Manhattan on Saturday
Local time
8:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is mostly on surface roads, with no highway driving percentage noted. You'll experience a longest stretch of 19.9 miles on the Veterans Memorial Tollway before transitioning to other main roads. Expect to navigate through local areas, which means you'll likely encounter more traffic signals and intersections compared to pure highway travel. The transition from the tollways to surface roads will likely involve a noticeable change in speed limits and surrounding development.
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 13.4 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.6 miles you will encounter 17 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 13.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Niles, IL and Manhattan, IL, road signs point toward Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
Indiana
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
Niles is a city of 30,912 (2020) in Illinois.
Founded 1886
Wall Street. Madison Avenue. 34th Street. Broadway. Times Square. Manhattan is so well known that even the names of its streets have become iconic and understood the world over. This long, thin island is only one of New York City's five boroughs, but it's Manhattan that has the concrete canyons and the inimitable skyline; Manhattan that has the world's brightest theater district; Manhattan that has Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and the Met; and Manhattan that includes iconic neighborhoods like Harlem, the Upper East Side, Times Square, and Greenwich Village. The rest of New York City has much to see and do, but it's Manhattan that represents the city—and sometimes the entire United States—to the world. You could spend a month on this tiny island and still not see all there is to see.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 54.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Niles, IL or browse trips ending in Manhattan, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
