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Trip from Channel Lake, IL to Chicago, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 17m

Distance

58.7 mi

94 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 12m ★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m

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 Channel Lake, IL, IL

Channel Lake, IL

Артем Дворецкий

Downtown chicago-il

Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

Trip Overview

This straightforward 58.7-mile drive from Channel Lake, IL, to Chicago, IL, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 17 minutes. You'll primarily be navigating major roadways, with about 56% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $9, making it an economical option. Given the relatively short distance and duration, it's best suited for a direct journey rather than requiring an overnight stay. This route keeps you within the Midwest region as you travel from a more rural starting point to a major urban center.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 58.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a mixed drive on this route, blending efficient highway travel with stretches on local roads. With 56% of the journey on highways, including parts of the Edens Expressway, you'll experience periods of consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.7 miles, likely on North Skokie Highway, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. The character of the drive will shift as you move from the more open areas around Channel Lake towards the increasingly developed surroundings of Chicago.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Skokie Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 173 / West IL Route 173.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 58.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 (IL 173 / West IL Route 173): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles (US 41 / North Skokie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 57.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 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 | IL 173 / West IL Route 173

Turn left onto IL 173 / West IL Route 173

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
10.1 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 41 / North Skokie Highway

Turn right onto US 41 / North Skokie Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
57.7 mi into trip | ~1h 14m 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
4
58.2 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | South Halsted Street

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

Navigation decision point

4
58.3 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | West Cermak Road

Turn right onto West Cermak Road

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Skokie Highway 17.7 mi 20m
Edens Expressway 13.7 mi 17m
West IL Route 173 10.1 mi 15m
Kennedy Expressway 8.1 mi 11m
Skokie Highway 3.8 mi 4m
Skokie Valley Road 3.4 mi 3m
Dan Ryan Expressway 0.9 mi 1m
West Cermak Road 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: North Skokie Highway — 17.7 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

77 ft · 10 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto IL 173

10 mi · 15 min · West IL Route 173
Use the left lane.
3

Turn right onto US 41

18 mi · 20 min · North Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Continue on US 41

3.4 mi · 3 min · Skokie Valley Road
5

Continue on US 41

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 94; US 41

14 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 90; I 94

8.1 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8

Continue on I 90; I 94

0.9 mi · 1 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 52C Toward 18th Street Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · South Union Avenue
11

Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

505 ft · 12 sec · South Canalport Avenue
12

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · South Halsted Street
13

Turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.2 mi · 24 sec · West Cermak Road
14

Turn left

152 ft · 11 sec
15

Turn right

0.2 mi · 58 sec
16

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29.4 mi from Channel Lake, IL · 38m into the drive

village in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Northbrook, IL

29 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

Northbrook, IL to Chicago, IL

26 mi · 38m

Pacing Suggestions

Grandwood Park, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Northbrook, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.4 miles from Channel Lake, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.18 one way

$18.35 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.08 $20.15
premium $4.89 $11.30 $22.59
diesel $5.61 $12.96 $25.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 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 17.6 0 $6.16 $2.82
Efficient EV 14.7 0 $5.14 $2.35
EV Truck/SUV 23.5 0 $8.22 $3.76

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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

Channel Lake, IL

Evening in Channel Lake on Thursday

Local time

6:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Mostly Sunny

N 5 mph 5% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 4:04PM CDT until April 16 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 3:58PM CDT until April 16 at 4:30PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Destination

Chicago, IL

Evening in Chicago on Thursday

Local time

6:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Isolated Rain Showers

N 10 to 15 mph 24% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 4:04PM CDT until April 16 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 3:58PM CDT until April 16 at 4:30PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY

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

3 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 17m 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 Channel Lake, IL to Chicago, IL covers 58.7 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Skokie Highway, Edens Expressway, West IL Route 173. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.4 miles from Channel Lake, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.18 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 58.7 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (IL 173 / West IL Route 173): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles (US 41 / North Skokie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 57.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Channel Lake, 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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