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Trip from Chicago, IL to Darien, IL

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

32m

Distance

21.1 mi

34 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 30m ★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m

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 chicago-il

Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

city in DuPage County, Illinois, United States

Darien, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick trip from Chicago to Darien, expect a straightforward journey covering approximately 21.1 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 32 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting around $3 for fuel will cover your transit across these two Midwest locations. Since the route is entirely contained within Illinois, you will experience a seamless transition from the city center to the suburbs. This drive is highly efficient for those looking to reach their destination without the need for extensive travel planning.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 21.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 81% of your time spent navigating major expressways. You will spend the bulk of your journey on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of 11.1 miles. After departing the city, the road transitions from dense urban corridors into the more open flow of the Stevenson Expressway before eventually exiting onto 75th Street. Expect a consistent, fast-paced commute rather than a leisurely scenic tour. The personality of this route is defined by its practicality and speed, moving you quickly from the heart of the city to your destination in Darien.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 11.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

613 ft 588 ft

Total Climb

25 ft

Total Descent

0 ft

Highest Point

613 ft

~6 mi in

Elevation Range

25 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Stevenson Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near South Halsted Street.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 21.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: 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; at 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

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.
8
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
8
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
8
18.5 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the exit toward IL 83 North, IL 83 South: Kingery Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 274 Toward IL 83 North, IL 83 South: Kingery Road
8
18.7 mi into trip | ~27m in

Keep slight right at fork toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Adlai Stevenson Expressway 11.1 mi 15m
Stevenson Expressway 5.6 mi 7m
75th Street 1.5 mi 2m
Kingery Highway 0.5 mi <1m
Adlai E Stevenson Expressway 0.3 mi <1m
West Cermak Road 0.2 mi <1m
South Halsted Street 0.1 mi <1m
Cass Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Adlai Stevenson Expressway — 11.1 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Darien, 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 right at fork

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8

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.
9

Merge onto I 55

5.6 mi · 7 min · Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 55

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
11

Continue on I 55

11 mi · 15 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Exit 274 Toward IL 83 North, IL 83 South: Kingery Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Merge onto IL 83

0.5 mi · 45 sec · Kingery Highway
Use the left lane.
15

Turn left onto 75th Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · 75th Street
16

Turn right onto Cass Avenue

356 ft · 34 sec · Cass Avenue
Use the right lane.
17

Continue on Cass Avenue

332 ft · 8 sec · Cass Avenue
18

Arrive at destination

Cass Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.30 one way

$6.60 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $3.62 $7.24
premium $4.89 $4.06 $8.12
diesel $5.61 $4.66 $9.32

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 7.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.3 0 $2.22 $1.01
Efficient EV 5.3 0 $1.85 $0.84
EV Truck/SUV 8.4 0 $2.95 $1.35

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 13, 2026

Origin

Chicago, IL

Evening in Chicago on Thursday

Local time

7:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 15 mph 11% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Darien, IL

Evening in Darien on Thursday

Local time

7:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°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

9 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

32m 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 Darien, IL covers 21.1 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Stevenson Expressway, 75th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.5 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 $3.30 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 21.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chicago, IL to Darien, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 588 ft to 613 ft elevation with about 25 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

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Return Trip

Darien, IL to Chicago, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

20.9 mi 32m

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