If you are looking to head from the quiet fields of Serena to the bustling streets of Chicago, you are in for a 69.6-mile journey. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 23 minutes behind the wheel for this Midwestern transition. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at around $10, it is an affordable way to reach the city. While the route is straightforward, keep in mind that you will be navigating local roads rather than relying on a high-speed interstate corridor. This drive is ideal if you prefer a direct, local approach to your travel rather than a major highway haul.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.5 miles from Serena, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
24.9 mi
33m
Walker Road
11.8 mi
16m
IL 71
8.4 mi
12m
West Lockport Road
4.9 mi
7m
North 38th Road
4.4 mi
6m
Stevenson Expressway
3.6 mi
4m
West Main Street
2.8 mi
4m
Schlapp Road
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 24.9 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Serena, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on North 3806th Road
281 ft·14 sec·North 3806th Road
2
Turn right onto East 2288th Road
365 ft·21 sec·East 2288th Road
3
Turn left onto US 52
4.4 mi·6 min·North 38th Road
4
Turn left onto IL 71
8.4 mi·12 min·IL 71
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto Walker Road
12 mi·16 min·Walker Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto Schlapp Road
2.0 mi·2 min·Schlapp Road
7
Turn right onto IL 126
4.9 mi·7 min·West Lockport Road
8
Continue on West Lockport Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Lockport Street
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto West Main Street
2.8 mi·4 min·West Main Street
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North
11
Merge onto I 55
25 mi·33 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 55
3.6 mi·4 min·Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 290Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward Damen AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
440 ft·12 sec
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen AvenueUse the left lane.
16
Turn straight onto South Damen Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·South Damen Avenue
17
Turn right onto South Blue Island Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Blue Island Avenue
18
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.8 mi·1 min·West Cermak Road
19
Turn right
152 ft·11 sec
20
Turn right
0.2 mi·58 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this 1 hour and 23-minute drive is quite manageable, you have significant flexibility with your departure time. You can easily complete the trip without needing to plan for formal rest stops, though it is always smart to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Serena. Because you are traveling on local roads, stay mindful of changing speed limits and local traffic patterns as you approach Chicago. The absence of a long, sustained highway stretch means you should factor in a little extra time for potential local congestion. One concrete tip: keep your GPS active and ready, as the turn-heavy nature of this route makes it easy to miss a junction if you aren't paying close attention to your navigation.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.5 miles from Serena, IL, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.9 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 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.5 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chicago, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Serena, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Serena, IL
This is one driving day of about 67.1 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Serena, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 24.9 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 64.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.5 mi into trip|~7m in|IL 71
Turn left onto IL 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
12.9 mi into trip|~19m in|Walker Road
Turn right onto Walker Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
64.2 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 290
Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue
8
64.4 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Damen Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Damen Avenue
9
64.6 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.49 one way
$20.98 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.52
$23.04
premium
$4.89
$12.91
$25.83
diesel
$5.61
$14.81
$29.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.1
0
$7.05
$3.22
Efficient EV
16.8
0
$5.87
$2.68
EV Truck/SUV
26.8
0
$9.39
$4.29
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Serena, IL
Late night
in Serena on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chicago, IL
Late night
in Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 15 mph98% chanceLive 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
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
19 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
1h 37m 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.
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 64.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged throughout the entire 69.6-mile distance. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route avoids highways entirely, meaning you will experience a 0% highway share as you navigate between your starting point and the city. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, so be ready to adjust your speed and focus frequently. The character of the road is defined by its local nature, requiring you to stay attentive to changing road conditions as you move toward your destination. It is a practical path that trades high-speed efficiency for a more hands-on, turn-by-turn driving experience.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.9 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 4.5 miles in near IL 71.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 4.5 miles (IL 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.9 miles (Walker Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 64.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 67.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.9 miles on I 55. 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 4.5 miles (IL 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.9 miles (Walker Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 64.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chicago, IL before heading back.
