Trip from Chicago, IL to Barr, IL

Drive Time

5h 5m

Distance

247.7 mi

399 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 52m ★

6 AM

5h 6m

8 AM

5h 33m

10 AM

5h 15m

12 PM

5h 13m

3 PM

5h 17m

5 PM

5h 31m

8 PM

4h 58m

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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Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

Barr, IL

Pho Tomass

Trip Overview

Traveling from Chicago to Barr covers 247.7 miles across the Illinois landscape, typically taking about 5 hours and 5 minutes of driving time. Because this route is entirely within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition from the urban sprawl of Chicago toward the more rural surroundings of Barr. With 91% of the journey spent on highways, this trip is highly efficient and easily manageable as a single-day excursion. Budgeting approximately $38 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way trek. While you could technically split the drive, the duration is short enough that most travelers prefer a straight shot to reach their destination without the need for an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

123.9 miles from Chicago, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads. You will begin your journey on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 128.7 miles. The route relies heavily on I-55 to carry the bulk of your travel before eventually transitioning onto IL 104 as you near Barr. Given that 91% of your time is spent on major thoroughfares, the drive has a very predictable, consistent pace. While the initial leg through the expressway is fast-paced, the final transition to state roads allows for a more relaxed approach as you exit the main interstate corridor.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 128.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Cermak Road.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 247.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Cermak Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (South Halsted Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

0.2 mi into trip | ~1m in | West Cermak Road

At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | South Halsted Street

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive

1 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: St Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 53B Toward I 55 South: St Louis

136.1 mi into trip | ~2h 38m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

Towns Along This Route

Between Chicago, IL and Barr, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Auburn.

Springfield

136.1 mi in | ~2h 38m | via I 55

Auburn

211.5 mi in | ~3h 59m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Adlai Stevenson Expressway	128.7 mi	2h 26m
I 55	75.3 mi	1h 21m
IL 104	16.7 mi	25m
South Miller Street	8.4 mi	14m
Stevenson Expressway	5.6 mi	7m
Palmyra Road	5.2 mi	12m
9000 East	2.9 mi	5m
Hettick Scottville Road	2 mi	4m

Longest stretch: Adlai Stevenson Expressway — 128.7 mi, about 2h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on this road

0.2 mi · 1 min · this road

At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Cermak Road

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · South Halsted Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

285 ft · 5 sec · South Canalport Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn slight right

110 ft · 4 sec

Take the ramp

455 ft · 11 sec

Toward I 90 East, I 94 East

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Toward I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 53B Toward I 55 South: St Louis Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 55

5.6 mi · 7 min · Stevenson Expressway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 55

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Adlai E Stevenson Expressway

Continue on I 55

129 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

65 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 55

Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

11 mi · 11 min · I 55

Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 51 sec

Toward IL 104: Pawnee, Auburn

Turn right onto IL 104

17 mi · 25 min · IL 104

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto IL 111

8.4 mi · 14 min · South Miller Street

Continue on IL 111

2.9 mi · 5 min · 9000 East

Turn right onto State Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · State Street

Continue on Palmyra Road

5.2 mi · 12 min · Palmyra Road

Turn left onto Hettick Scottville Road

2.0 mi · 4 min · Hettick Scottville Road

Turn right onto Barr Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Barr Road

Turn right onto Conrady Road

57 ft · 2 sec · Conrady Road

Arrive at destination

Conrady Road

Trip Plan

To ensure a smooth trip, aim to depart early in the morning to beat potential traffic congestion when exiting the Chicago area. You only need to plan for one major stop, which provides a perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel halfway through the 247.7-mile journey. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the initial 128.7-mile stretch on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, as you will want to time your pit stop efficiently before transitioning to the smaller state roads. Since the total time is just over 5 hours, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your departure based on your personal schedule. Having your route mapped out for the final transition onto IL 104 will help you navigate the end of the drive with confidence.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 123.9 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 2h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.7 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 123.9 miles or 2h 24m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 50m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Chicago, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Chicago, IL

This is one driving day of about 247.7 miles and 5h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chicago, IL.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 128.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 123.9 mi from Chicago, IL · 2h 24m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IL

124 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

Normal, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Normal, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 123.9 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128.7 miles.

Arriving in Barr, IL

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

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Barr, IL.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.62 one way

$75.25 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 87 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$41.48	$82.95
premium	$4.80	$46.76	$93.52
diesel	$5.64	$55.03	$110.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 86.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	74.3	0	$26.01	$11.89
Efficient EV	61.9	0	$21.67	$9.91
EV Truck/SUV	99.1	1	$34.68	$15.85

Gas CO2

87 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Chicago, IL

Afternoon in Chicago on Sunday

Local time

4:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Barr, IL

Afternoon in Barr on Sunday

Local time

4:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

53°F

Bloomington, IL

124 mi in

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

7 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

5h 5m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Chicago, IL to Barr, IL covers 247.7 miles and takes about 5h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 55, IL 104. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 123.9 miles from Chicago, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.62 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.