Origin
Niles, IL
Late night in Niles on Sunday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Niles, IL to Melrose Park, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
10.4 mi
17 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Niles, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Melrose Park, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Niles, IL to Melrose Park, IL is 10.4 miles and takes about 23 minutes via North Harlem Avenue, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Midwest and Illinois, making it a convenient local journey. Expect a straightforward drive with a few turns, ideal for a quick trip without needing an overnight stay. It’s a practical option for connecting two nearby Illinois communities, requiring minimal planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Harlem Avenue | 4.4 mi | 9m |
| West Forest Preserve Drive | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| North 1st Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Thatcher Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Division Street | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| 9th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Howard Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Harlem Avenue
— 4.4 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Niles, IL and Melrose Park, IL.
1
Start on North Waukegan Road
14 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Waukegan Road
2
Turn left onto West Howard Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
West Howard Street
3
Turn sharp left onto IL 21
498 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
4
Turn slight right onto IL 43
4.4 mi
·
9 min
·
North Harlem Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto West Forest Preserve Drive
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Forest Preserve Drive
6
Turn left onto IL 171
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Cumberland Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on IL 171
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Thatcher Avenue
8
Turn straight onto IL 171
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North 1st Avenue
9
Turn right onto IL 64
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto 9th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
9th Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Division Street
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Division Street
12
Arrive at destination
Division Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 9.2 — 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 left onto West Howard Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 21 / North Milwaukee Avenue
Turn sharp left onto IL 21 / North Milwaukee Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
6.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
IL 171 / North Cumberland Avenue
Turn left onto IL 171 / North Cumberland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
8.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
IL 64 / North Avenue
Turn right onto IL 64 / North Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
9.2 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
9th Avenue
Turn left onto 9th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.63 one way
$3.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.79 | $3.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.00 | $4.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.30 | $4.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.09 | $0.50 |
| Efficient EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.91 | $0.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.46 | $0.67 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Melrose Park, IL
Late night in Melrose Park on Sunday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
23m 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?
This is a turn-heavy local drive, with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll navigate city streets for the entire 10.4 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 4.4 miles on North Harlem Avenue, so be prepared for frequent intersections and traffic lights. The route primarily utilizes North Harlem Avenue, West Forest Preserve Drive, and North 1st Avenue. You'll experience a consistent local road feel throughout, with no significant changes in road type or speed.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.4 mi on North Harlem Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 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
5/10
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 10.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (IL 21 / North Milwaukee Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.5 miles (IL 171 / North Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 10.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.4 miles on North Harlem Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (IL 21 / North Milwaukee Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.5 miles (IL 171 / North Cumberland Avenue): 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 Melrose Park, 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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