Origin
West Chicago, IL
Morning in West Chicago on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Chicago, IL to Calumet City, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
52.7 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Chicago, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Calumet City, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from West Chicago to Calumet City, expect a straightforward 52.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops along the way. You will primarily navigate via the Tri-State Tollway, the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, and West Sibley Boulevard to reach your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of just $8, it is a budget-friendly commute within the Midwest. Keep in mind that this is a localized drive, so you will spend most of your time navigating through suburban Illinois landscapes. It is an efficient path for those looking to cross the region without needing extensive travel logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 19.4 mi | 24m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| West Sibley Boulevard | 5.5 mi | 9m |
| Illinois Route 59 | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| West 147th Street | 3 mi | 5m |
| South Neltnor Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Mile-Long Bridge | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 19.4 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Chicago, IL and Calumet City, IL.
1
Start on this road
41 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
49 ft
·
5 sec
3
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Washington Street
4
Turn right onto IL 59
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Neltnor Boulevard
5
Continue on IL 59
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Illinois Route 59
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 138
Toward I 294 South, IL 38: Indiana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 294
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 294
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mile-Long Bridge
14
Continue on I 294
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8
Toward IL 83: 147th Street, Sibley Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto IL 83
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West 147th Street
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on IL 83
5.5 mi
·
9 min
·
West Sibley Boulevard
18
Turn right onto Wentworth Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wentworth Avenue
19
Turn left onto Pulaski Road
114 ft
·
3 sec
·
Pulaski Road
20
Arrive at destination
Pulaski Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.4 miles from West Chicago, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 18 and 43.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
18 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
21.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward I 294 South, IL 38: Indiana
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 138
Toward I 294 South, IL 38: Indiana
6
22 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
26.6 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
43.4 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward IL 83: 147th Street, Sibley Boulevard
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 8
Toward IL 83: 147th Street, Sibley Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.24 one way
$16.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.05 | $18.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.14 | $20.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.64 | $23.27 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.05
Tri-state Tollway
(19.4 mi)
$1.17
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(14.7 mi)
$0.88
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.53 | $2.53 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Calumet City, IL
Morning in Calumet City on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 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 16m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is best described as a turn-heavy local route rather than a long-distance cruise. While you will spend approximately 7 percent of your time on highways, the experience is defined by shifting between larger tollways and surface streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 19.4-mile segment on the Tri-State Tollway, which provides the most consistent pace of the trip. Expect the character of the road to change as you transition from the suburban feel of West Chicago into the more dense, turn-heavy sections required to reach Calumet City. Stay alert, as the mix of high-speed tollway sections and local boulevards requires constant attention to navigation.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.4 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18 miles in near I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.7 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 18 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in West Chicago, IL
Full guide →West Chicago is a city in Chicagoland.
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 1h 16m. Total distance: 52.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.4 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.05 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Calumet City, 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 18 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Calumet City, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Calumet City, IL
More trips to Calumet City, IL
Explore more options from West Chicago, IL or browse trips ending in Calumet City, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.