If you are looking to head south from Chicago to Clifton, Illinois, prepare for a straightforward journey covering 73.2 miles. This trip typically takes about 1 hour and 28 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a quick day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via local streets like West Cermak Road, South Halsted Street, and South Canalport Avenue rather than major interstates. Budgeting around $11 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for the entire trek. Since you remain within the Midwest throughout the journey, you can expect a familiar regional atmosphere from start to finish.
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
36.6 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will navigate a series of urban and local connections, meaning there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of road; in fact, the longest stretch on West Cermak Road is effectively zero miles. Because you are avoiding the interstate system, the pace remains steady but requires constant attention to navigation. The character of the drive is defined by these frequent turns and local maneuvers, providing a very different experience than a high-speed freeway trek. You will be behind the wheel for the duration of the 73.2-mile distance, navigating the transition from city streets to the local roads leading into Clifton.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 61.8 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 Complexity7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles (West Cermak Road): Navigation decision point; 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 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|West Cermak Road
At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road
Navigation decision point
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 straight / slight right lanes.
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
61.8 mi
1h 11m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.8 mi
11m
Dan Ryan Expressway
0.7 mi
<1m
South Main Street
0.5 mi
<1m
East 2900 North Road
0.2 mi
<1m
West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
<1m
South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
<1m
South Canalport Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 61.8 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Clifton, 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
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
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: IndianaUse 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 ExpressUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
62 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 57
Exit 63Toward I 57 South: MemphisUse the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 297Toward Clifton
12
Turn left onto East 2900 North Road
0.2 mi·28 sec·East 2900 North Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
0.5 mi·49 sec·South Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short 1 hour and 28 minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the route is entirely comprised of local roads with no highway segments, be prepared for frequent stops and turns rather than cruise control travel. You won't need to plan for formal rest stops given the short duration, but having your navigation apps ready is essential to handle the turn-heavy nature of the route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Chicago, as your $11 budget assumes a standard vehicle's efficiency for the 73.2-mile distance. Prioritize a departure during off-peak hours to avoid potential local traffic congestion, which can significantly impact your travel time on city streets.
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 36.6 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.8 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.6 miles or 45m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chicago, IL
This is one driving day of about 73.2 miles and 1h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Chicago, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 61.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.6 mi from Chicago, IL
· 45m into the drive
The midpoint is around 36.6 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 I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.8 miles.
Arriving in Clifton, IL
The final approach into Clifton, 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
$11.44 one way
$22.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.57
$25.13
premium
$4.89
$14.09
$28.17
diesel
$5.61
$16.16
$32.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22
0
$7.69
$3.51
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.41
$2.93
EV Truck/SUV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Chicago, IL
Night
in Chicago on Wednesday
Local time
10:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph75% chanceLive 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
Destination
Clifton, IL
Night
in Clifton on Wednesday
Local time
10:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 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 28m 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 Chicago, IL to Clifton, IL covers 73.2 miles and takes about 1h 28m 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), Dan Ryan Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.6 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 $11.44 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 73.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles (West Cermak Road): Navigation decision point; 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 Clifton, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
