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Trip from Caledonia, IL to Chicago, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 50m

Distance

84.4 mi

136 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 42m ★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 45m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Caledonia, IL, IL

Caledonia, IL

Gül Işık

Downtown chicago-il

Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

Trip Overview

The drive from Caledonia, IL to Chicago, IL covers 84.4 miles and takes about 1h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Kennedy Expressway, Fairgrounds Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.19 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

42.2 miles from Caledonia, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 84.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 50m drive with frequent turns across 84.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 53 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 around 26 miles in near I 90 / Jane Addams 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 84.4 miles you will encounter 28 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 26 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.5 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.1 miles (Cumberland flyover): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 28 key points

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

6
26 mi into trip | ~34m in | I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
66.5 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway toward Cumberland Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Cumberland Avenue
7
67.1 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | Cumberland flyover

Take the exit onto Cumberland flyover toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 79A Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue South
6
68.1 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in | IL 171 / North Cumberland Avenue

Turn right onto IL 171 / North Cumberland Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
83.3 mi into trip | ~1h 47m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway 53 mi 57m
Kennedy Expressway 7.9 mi 11m
Fairgrounds Road 6.8 mi 9m
US 20 Business 3.9 mi 6m
West Higgins Avenue 2.7 mi 6m
State Route 173 2.1 mi 2m
West Higgins Road 1.1 mi 1m
Cumberland flyover 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — 53 mi, about 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Front Street

114 ft · 7 sec · Front Street
2

Turn right onto Main Street

446 ft · 20 sec · Main Street
3

Turn right onto IL 173

2.1 mi · 2 min · State Route 173
4

Turn right onto IL 76

6.8 mi · 9 min · Fairgrounds Road
5

Turn left onto US 20 Business

3.9 mi · 6 min · US 20 Business
6

Continue on CR T40

0.7 mi · 1 min · Genoa Road
7

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
8

Merge onto I 90

12 mi · 12 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

41 mi · 43 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 90

0.3 mi · 21 sec · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Toward Cumberland Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

526 ft · 29 sec · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
12

Merge onto I 90

402 ft · 4 sec · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
13

Take the exit onto Cumberland flyover

1.0 mi · 1 min · Cumberland flyover
Exit 79A Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork

245 ft · 8 sec
Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue
15

Turn right onto IL 171

0.2 mi · 28 sec · North Cumberland Avenue
Use the right lane.
16

Continue on IL 171

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Cumberland Avenue
Use the left lane.
17

Turn right onto IL 72

1.1 mi · 1 min · West Higgins Road
18

Turn right onto IL 72

326 ft · 13 sec · North Oriole Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
19

Turn left onto IL 72

2.7 mi · 6 min · West Higgins Avenue
20

Turn right onto North Central Avenue

0.2 mi · 25 sec · North Central Avenue
21

Turn left onto West Lawrence Avenue

0.4 mi · 42 sec · West Lawrence Avenue
Use the left lane.
22

Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Milwaukee Avenue
23

Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Montrose Avenue
24

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
25

Merge onto I 90; I 94

7.9 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
26

Continue on I 90; I 94

0.9 mi · 1 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
27

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 52C Toward 18th Street Use the slight right lane.
28

Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · South Union Avenue
29

Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

505 ft · 12 sec · South Canalport Avenue
30

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · South Halsted Street
31

Turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.2 mi · 24 sec · West Cermak Road
32

Turn left

152 ft · 11 sec
33

Turn right

0.2 mi · 58 sec
34

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 42.2 miles from Caledonia, IL, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53 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 19 miles or 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 42.2 miles or 51m 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 28m

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 Caledonia, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Caledonia, IL

This is one driving day of about 84.4 miles and 1h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Caledonia, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 53 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42.2 mi from Caledonia, IL · 51m into the drive

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Franklin Park, IL

42 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.

Popular next leg

Franklin Park, IL to Chicago, IL

17.9 mi · 28m

Pacing Suggestions

Belvidere, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elgin, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.2 miles from Caledonia, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Chicago, IL

The final approach into Chicago, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

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...

11 mi from route ~27 min detour Free near mile 84.4
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.19 one way

$26.39 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.49 $28.98
premium $4.89 $16.24 $32.48
diesel $5.61 $18.63 $37.27

Estimated Tolls: $3.67

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (52.5 mi) $3.67

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.3 0 $8.86 $4.05
Efficient EV 21.1 0 $7.39 $3.38
EV Truck/SUV 33.8 0 $11.82 $5.40

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Caledonia, IL

Evening in Caledonia on Thursday

Local time

5:40 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chicago, IL

Evening in Chicago on Thursday

Local time

5:40 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

NNW 10 to 15 mph 41% chance Live forecast

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

20 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

1h 50m 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 Caledonia, IL to Chicago, IL covers 84.4 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Kennedy Expressway, Fairgrounds Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.2 miles from Caledonia, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.19 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.4 miles you will encounter 28 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 26 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.5 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.1 miles (Cumberland flyover): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Caledonia, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

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