Origin
Northlake, IL
Late night in Northlake on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northlake, 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
18.2 mi
29 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northlake, IL
Sean Ewing
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
Traveling from Northlake to Chicago is a quick, straightforward journey covering just 18.2 miles. You can expect to complete this drive in approximately 31 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of only $3, this is a highly economical route for those navigating within the Midwest. Because the entire trip stays within Illinois, you won't experience any significant regional shifts, allowing for a consistent driving environment. It is a practical, no-fuss connection between these two locations that offers maximum flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower Expressway | 11.1 mi | 15m |
| North 25th Avenue | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| East North Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Roberta Avenue | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Union Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Halsted Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Eisenhower Expressway
— 11.1 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northlake, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on East Dickens Avenue
471 ft
·
22 sec
·
East Dickens Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Roberta Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Roberta Avenue
3
Turn left onto IL 64
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East North Avenue
4
Turn right onto North 25th Avenue
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North 25th Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 290 East
6
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
9
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
12
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
13
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
14
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
15
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
16
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 17.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
North 25th Avenue
Turn right onto North 25th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway
Merge onto I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
16.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor St...
7
16.2 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
7
17.2 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
$2.85 one way
$5.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.12 | $6.25 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.50 | $7.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.02 | $8.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.91 | $0.87 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.59 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.16 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
4:12 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
16 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 as you navigate the 18.2-mile stretch between Northlake and Chicago. This route features no highway driving, meaning you will spend your entire 31-minute commute on local roads rather than high-speed interstates. Because the highway share is 0%, the experience is defined by frequent intersections and urban maneuvering rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. You should prepare for a steady, hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention throughout the trip.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.1 mi on Eisenhower Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Eisenhower Expressway and North 25th Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near North 25th Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 18.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 31m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (North 25th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
643 ft
580 ft
Total Climb
33 ft
Total Descent
88 ft
Highest Point
643 ft
Elevation Range
64 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Northlake, IL
Full guide →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: 18.2 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 (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.1 miles on Eisenhower Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Chicago, 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 2.3 miles (North 25th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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