University Park to Chicago is 35.8 miles and takes about 54 minutes via I 57, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward hop between two points. The route is predominantly highway, so expect to make good time. Given its brevity, this drive is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing you ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
19.1 mi
25m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
6.2 mi
8m
Dan Ryan Expressway
3.3 mi
4m
South Cicero Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
University Parkway
1.8 mi
3m
Stuenkel Road
1.2 mi
2m
Sauk Trail
0.6 mi
1m
Burnham Drive
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 19.1 mi, about 25m
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 University Park, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on this road
203 ft·16 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Sandra Drive
244 ft·12 sec·Sandra Drive
3
Turn right onto Burnham Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Burnham Drive
4
Turn left onto CH 49
1.8 mi·3 min·University Parkway
5
Turn left onto Stuenkel Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Stuenkel Road
6
Turn right onto IL 50
1.9 mi·3 min·South Cicero Avenue
7
Turn left onto Sauk Trail
0.6 mi·1 min·Sauk Trail
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
9
Merge onto I 57
19 mi·25 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi·4 min·Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
6.2 mi·8 min·Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 53AToward Canalport Avenue, Cermak RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street
243 ft·6 sec·South Ruble Street
14
Turn slight left
75 ft·4 sec
15
Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·South Canalport Avenue
16
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Halsted Street
17
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Cermak Road
18
Turn left
152 ft·11 sec
19
Turn right
0.2 mi·58 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 17.9 miles from University Park, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 34.8 — 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|Sandra Drive
Turn right onto Sandra Drive
Navigation decision point
5
5.9 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the ramp toward I 57 North: Chicago
Navigation decision point
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
5
6.2 mi into trip|~12m in|I 57
Merge onto I 57
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.6 mi into trip|~42m in|I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
8
34.8 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
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 53A
Toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.46 one way
$10.92 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg13 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$6.02
$12.03
premium
$4.81
$6.77
$13.55
diesel
$5.40
$7.62
$15.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
10.7
0
$3.76
$1.72
Efficient EV
9
0
$3.13
$1.43
EV Truck/SUV
14.3
0
$5.01
$2.29
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 24, 2026
Origin
University Park, IL
Morning
in University Park on Sunday
Local time
11:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 10 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 3:54PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 3:54PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Chicago, IL
Morning
in Chicago on Sunday
Local time
11:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 10 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 3:54PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 3:54PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
2 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
54m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 85% of the 35.8 miles on high-speed roads. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 19.1 miles on I 57, which is the longest segment without exiting. Expect a lot of merging and exiting activity as you approach and enter the urban environment of Chicago, particularly on the Dan Ryan Expressway.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.1 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sandra Drive.
Driving Effort6/10
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 35.8 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: near the start (Sandra Drive): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 54m. Total distance: 35.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.1 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 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: near the start (Sandra Drive): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (I 57): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Chicago, IL before heading back.
