Origin
Northfield, IL
Late night in Northfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northfield, IL to Chicago, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
21.5 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northfield, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
Traveling from Northfield to Chicago is a quick, straightforward journey covering just 21.6 miles. You can expect the drive to take approximately 32 minutes, making it a simple trip that is easily manageable within a single day. With an estimated fuel cost of only $3, it is a highly economical route that requires no overnight stops or complex planning. Since both locations are situated within the Midwest, you will remain in a familiar regional landscape throughout your travel. This route functions perfectly as a direct connection between the suburbs and the city, offering a practical way to reach your destination without the need for an extended itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Edens Expressway | 10.5 mi | 13m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Willow Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Union Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Halsted Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Wagner Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Edens Expressway
— 10.5 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northfield, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on Bosworth Lane
79 ft
·
8 sec
·
Bosworth Lane
2
Turn left onto Wagner Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Wagner Road
3
Turn right onto Willow Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Willow Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 94 East, US 41 South: Chicago
5
Merge onto I 94; US 41
11 mi
·
13 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
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
10
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
11
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
12
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
13
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
14
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 20.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Wagner Road
Turn left onto Wagner Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Willow Road
Turn right onto Willow Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 94 East, US 41 South: Chicago
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94 East, US 41 South: Chicago
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 94; US 41 / Edens Expressway
Merge onto I 94; US 41 / Edens Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
20.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward 18th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.36 one way
$6.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.69 | $7.38 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.14 | $8.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.75 | $9.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.26 | $1.03 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.88 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Chicago, IL
Late night in Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 15 mph
98% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:33AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
13 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
31m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul. Because this route involves zero highway driving, you will spend your time navigating through local streets and neighborhoods as you transition from Northfield into Chicago. The lack of highway stretches means you should anticipate frequent stops and a more deliberate pace compared to cross-country travel. You will find that the character of the road is defined by its local nature, requiring your full attention as you navigate turns rather than cruising at high speeds. It is an ideal route if you prefer navigating through the local landscape over the monotony of a major expressway.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.5 mi on Edens Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Edens Expressway and Kennedy Expressway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Wagner Road.
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 21.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 (Wagner Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Willow Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
633 ft
575 ft
Total Climb
55 ft
Total Descent
99 ft
Highest Point
633 ft
Elevation Range
58 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Northfield, IL
Full guide →Northfield is a city in The suburbs of Chicago Illinois It is about 20 miles North of the city of Chicago. The Population is around 5500 people. The city is primarily a residential village, with a small section of commercial real-estate.
Arriving in Chicago, IL
Full guide →Chicago is the home of the blues and the truth of jazz, the heart of comedy and the idea of the skyscraper. Here, the age of railroads found its center, and airplanes followed suit. "Stormy, Husky, Brawling / City of Big Shoulders," Chicago is a Heartland boomtown, its ethos defined by urban planner Daniel Burnham's immortal vision: "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." It is one of the world's great cities and the third largest city in the United States, behind only New York City and Los Angeles. As the hub of the Midwest, Chicago is easy to find — its picturesque skyline calls across the waters of Lake Michigan, a first impression that soon reveals world-class museums of art and science, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks and public art, and perhaps the finest downtown collection of modern architecture in the world.
Top landmarks
- • Willis Tower — skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois
- • Art Institute of Chicago — art museum and school in Chicago, United States
- • Wrigley Field — baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, USA; home venue of the Chicago Cubs
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 31m. Total distance: 21.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.5 miles on Edens Expressway. 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 (Wagner Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Willow Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chicago, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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