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Trip from Burbank, IL to Chicago, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

24m

Distance

12.8 mi

21 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 23m ★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 23m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Burbank, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown chicago-il

Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Burbank to Chicago, you are looking at a quick 12.8-mile trip that typically takes about 24 minutes. Because this is a short journey within the Midwest, you can easily complete it as a straightforward day trip without needing any overnight stops. You will primarily navigate via South Cicero Avenue, the Stevenson Expressway, and State Road. With an estimated fuel cost of just $2, it is a very budget-friendly commute. This route is ideal for those who need to get between these two Illinois locations efficiently rather than those looking for a scenic getaway.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

6.4 miles from Burbank, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate through the urban landscape. Only 22% of this route takes place on the highway, meaning you will spend the majority of your time on local roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is a 4-mile segment on South Cicero Avenue, which serves as the primary backbone of the trip. The transition from local streets to the faster-paced Stevenson Expressway creates a distinct shift in driving rhythm. Be prepared for frequent turns and intersection management rather than a long, relaxing cruise.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Cicero Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 early in the drive near State Road.

Route Complexity 7/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 12.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (State Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.7 miles (IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | State Road

Turn sharp right onto State Road

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
2.7 mi into trip | ~6m in | IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue

Turn left onto IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes.
8
9.9 mi into trip | ~17m 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
10.1 mi into trip | ~18m 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
10.4 mi into trip | ~18m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Cicero Avenue 4 mi 6m
Stevenson Expressway 2.9 mi 3m
State Road 1.5 mi 3m
South State Road 1.1 mi 2m
West Cermak Road 0.8 mi 1m
South Damen Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
South Blue Island Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
West 87th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: South Cicero Avenue — 4 mi, about 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Burbank, IL and Chicago, IL.

1

Start on West 87th Street

59 ft · 10 sec · West 87th Street
2

Turn sharp right onto State Road

1.5 mi · 3 min · State Road
3

Continue on South State Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · South State Road
4

Turn left onto IL 50

4.0 mi · 6 min · South Cicero Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
6

Merge onto I 55

2.9 mi · 3 min · Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 290 Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward Damen Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

440 ft · 12 sec
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue Use the left lane.
10

Turn straight onto South Damen Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Damen Avenue
11

Turn right onto South Blue Island Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Blue Island Avenue
12

Turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Cermak Road
13

Turn right

152 ft · 11 sec
14

Turn right

0.2 mi · 58 sec
15

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a short 24-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You will not need to plan for any stops along the way, allowing you to head straight to your destination. Keep in mind that because the route relies heavily on local roads like South Cicero Avenue, traffic patterns can shift quickly; check your GPS before leaving to ensure the most efficient path. Since your fuel costs are minimal at roughly $2, you can focus your travel budget on your activities once you arrive in Chicago. Take advantage of the short distance to avoid the fatigue associated with longer regional road trips.

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 6.4 miles from Burbank, IL, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4 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 12.8 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 6.4 miles or 12m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chicago, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Burbank, IL.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Burbank, IL

This is one driving day of about 12.8 miles and 24m.

At 12.8 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on South Cicero Avenue for about 4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 6.4 mi from Burbank, IL · 12m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Cicero, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cicero, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 6.4 miles from Burbank, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Chicago, IL

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Chicago, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.00 one way

$4.00 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $2.20 $4.39
premium $4.89 $2.46 $4.93
diesel $5.61 $2.83 $5.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.8 0 $1.34 $0.61
Efficient EV 3.2 0 $1.12 $0.51
EV Truck/SUV 5.1 0 $1.79 $0.82

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 14, 2026

Origin

Burbank, IL

Night in Burbank on Wednesday

Local time

10:38 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chicago, IL

Night in Chicago on Wednesday

Local time

10:38 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

W 10 mph 75% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 19 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

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

9 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

24m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Burbank, IL to Chicago, IL covers 12.8 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Cicero Avenue, Stevenson Expressway, State Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.4 miles from Burbank, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 12.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (State Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.7 miles (IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Burbank, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Chicago, IL to Burbank, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

13.5 mi 25m

Explore more options from Burbank, IL or browse trips ending in Chicago, IL.

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