Origin
Chicago, IL
Evening in Chicago on Sunday
Local time
7:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chicago, IL to Bradley, IL
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
55.7 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Bradley, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
Traveling from Chicago to Bradley covers 55.7 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 11 minutes. Since this is a straightforward trek within the Midwest, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $8 for fuel to complete the journey. Because the route relies entirely on local roads rather than interstates, you will experience a steady, turn-heavy drive rather than a high-speed sprint. It serves as a practical connection between the urban landscape of Chicago and the community of Bradley. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the low cost and short duration make this a highly accessible drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
27.9 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a unique experience behind the wheel, as this route contains 0% highway driving. You will navigate through a series of local streets, including West Cermak Road, South Halsted Street, and South Canalport Avenue. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on West Cermak Road, you should prepare for constant maneuvering and frequent turns. This is a technical, turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention compared to a standard interstate cruise. The road’s personality is defined by its urban complexity, requiring you to stay alert as you transition away from the city center toward your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 42.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). 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
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 55.7 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 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
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.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Halsted Street
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
9
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90, I 94 East: Indiana
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 90, I 94 East: Indiana
8
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
8
10.4 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 57
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 63
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 42.7 mi | 50m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| Kinzie Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| East Broadway Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Schuyler Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Halsted Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 42.7 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Bradley, IL.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Cermak Road
Use the none lane.
3
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Halsted Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
285 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
Use the none lane.
5
Turn slight right
110 ft
·
4 sec
6
Take the ramp
455 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 90, I 94 East: Indiana
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
Use the none lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
43 mi
·
50 min
·
I 57
Exit 63
Toward I 57 South: Memphis
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 315
Toward IL 50: Bradley, Bourbonnais
12
Turn right onto IL 50
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Kinzie Avenue
13
Turn right onto East Broadway Street
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Broadway Street
14
Turn left onto South Schuyler Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Schuyler Avenue
15
Turn right onto East Broadway Street
362 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Broadway Street
16
Arrive at destination
East Broadway Street
Trip Plan
Given the local nature of these roads, try to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure you don't get stuck in heavy city traffic. Since the trip is only 1 hour and 11 minutes long, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. There are no planned stops on this 55.7-mile route, so consider filling up your tank before you leave to keep your $8 fuel budget on track. Because you will be navigating strictly local streets, keep your GPS active to help manage the frequent turns along West Cermak and South Halsted. Use the lack of highway segments to your advantage by keeping a steady pace and staying mindful of local traffic patterns.
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 27.9 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.7 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 55.7 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.9 miles or 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bradley, 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 55.7 miles and 1h 11m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 42.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.9 mi from Chicago, IL · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 55.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.9 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bradley, IL
The final approach into Bradley, 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 Bradley, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.46 one way
$16.92 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $9.33 | $18.65 |
| premium | $4.80 | $10.52 | $21.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.37 | $24.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.67 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.80 | $3.56 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (63% 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
Bradley, IL
Evening in Bradley on Sunday
Local time
7:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
54°F
Lansing, IL
28 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
8 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 11m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chicago, IL to Bradley, IL covers 55.7 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express), Kinzie Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.9 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 $8.46 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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 55.7 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.
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.
The route from Chicago, IL to Bradley, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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