North Chicago, IL to York, IL is 251.6 miles and takes about 5h 44m via SR 63 and US 41, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traveling from Illinois to Illinois. The route offers a mixed highway and surface road experience, making it a straightforward drive for a single day. Plan for a drive that balances faster travel with more local road cruising.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
125.8 miles from North Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
SR 63
59.1 mi
1h 15m
Wicker Avenue
58.8 mi
1h 18m
US 41
21.6 mi
26m
IL 1
18 mi
27m
Edens Expressway
13.7 mi
17m
Bishop Ford Freeway
10.8 mi
14m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
9.6 mi
10m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.8 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
SR 63
— 59.1 mi, about 1h 15m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 3 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~8,925 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,444 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Chicago, IL and York, IL.
1
Start on Fellows Place
0.1 mi·32 sec·Fellows Place
2
Turn right onto 18th Street
155 ft·10 sec·18th Street
3
Turn right onto IL 137
0.6 mi·39 sec·Sheridan Road
4
Continue on IL 137
0.8 mi·1 min·Bobby E. Thompson Expressway
5
Turn right onto IL 137
1.5 mi·2 min·Buckley Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto US 41
5.6 mi·6 min·North Skokie Highway
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi·3 min·Skokie Valley Road
8
Continue on US 41
3.8 mi·4 min·Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 94; US 41
14 mi·17 min·Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.1 mi·11 min·Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on I 90; I 94
2.4 mi·2 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
8.8 mi·11 min·Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 ExpressUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
11 mi·14 min·Bishop Ford Freeway
Toward I 94 East: IndianaUse the slight left lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
1.1 mi·1 min·I 94
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East: IndianaUse the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·43 sec
Exit 161Toward US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence AvenueUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 161Toward US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence AvenueUse the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
502 ft·12 sec
Toward IL 83 South
18
Turn straight onto IL 83
3.7 mi·5 min·Torrence Avenue
19
Turn left onto IL 83
1.8 mi·2 min·Glenwood Dyer Road
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on US 30
1.0 mi·2 min·Lincoln Highway
21
Continue on US 30
2.7 mi·5 min·Joliet Street
22
Continue on US 30
0.1 mi·20 sec·West Lincoln Highway
23
Turn right onto US 41
59 mi·1 hr 18 min·Wicker Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
22 mi·26 min·US 41
25
Continue on SR 63
59 mi·1 hr 15 min·SR 63
26
Turn right
0.3 mi·1 min
27
Continue on Pennington Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Pennington Road
28
Turn left onto US 150
4.5 mi·6 min·US 150
29
Continue on US 150
1.9 mi·2 min·N 3rd Street
30
Turn right onto West National Avenue
3.5 mi·5 min·West National Avenue
31
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·46 sec
32
Merge onto I 70; US 40
9.6 mi·10 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
33
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward IL 1: Marshall, Paris
34
Turn left onto IL 1
18 mi·27 min·IL 1
35
Turn sharp left onto East 150th Road
1.9 mi·7 min·East 150th Road
36
Continue on West Broadway Street
0.2 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
37
Turn left onto North York Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·North York Street
38
Arrive at destination
North York Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under 6 hours, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Consider leaving in the morning to allow ample time for stops and to avoid arriving too late. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 59.1 miles on SR 63, so keep an eye on your fuel before you reach that point. You'll likely make one planned stop for a break or fuel, as indicated by the route data, which is easy to manage on a drive of this length.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 125.8 miles from North Chicago, IL, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.1 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 55 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.8 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near York, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Chicago, 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 North Chicago, IL
This is one driving day of about 251.6 miles and 5h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from North Chicago, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on SR 63 for about 59.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 40.1 and 61.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
40.1 mi into trip|~51m in|I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
7
48.9 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway toward I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 94 East: Indiana
8
59.7 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 80 East, I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 80 East, I 94 East: Indiana
9
60.8 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161
Toward US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue
9
61.3 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 161
Toward US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.38 one way
$76.77 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$42.28
$84.55
premium
$4.81
$47.61
$95.21
diesel
$5.40
$53.52
$107.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.5
0
$26.42
$12.08
Efficient EV
62.9
0
$22.01
$10.06
EV Truck/SUV
100.6
1
$35.22
$16.10
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 24, 2026
Origin
North Chicago, IL
Morning
in North Chicago on Sunday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
York, IL
Morning
in York on Sunday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
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
5h 44m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 59% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 59.1 miles on SR 63 before transitioning to more surface roads. Expect a mix of driving experiences, from merging onto highways to navigating local routes as you approach your destination.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.1 mi on SR 63.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 around 40.1 miles in near I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express).
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 251.6 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: at 40.1 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.9 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.7 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
On the drive from North Chicago, IL to York, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Paris along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 44m. Total distance: 251.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.1 miles on SR 63. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 York, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 40.1 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.9 miles (I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.7 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at York, IL before the return drive.
