Origin
Chicago, IL
Late night in Chicago on Wednesday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chicago, IL to Dayton, ME
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
20h 40m
Distance
1086.8 mi
1,749 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
3-day trip
Fuel Cost
$170
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
20h 22m
★
6 AM
20h 40m
8 AM
21h 18m
10 AM
20h 53m
12 PM
20h 50m
3 PM
20h 55m
5 PM
21h 16m
8 PM
20h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
The drive from Chicago, IL to Dayton, ME covers 1086.8 miles and takes about 20h 40m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 3-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 80, I 84, Ohio Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 278.5 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $169.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 3 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
5 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
543.4 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9h 57m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
At 1086.8 miles and 20h 40m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 80 and I 84.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 53 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 278.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 44 significant decision points across 1086.8 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 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.3 miles (I 90 / Chicago Skyway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 962.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 44 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
6.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 90 / Chicago Skyway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Chicago Skyway toward I 90 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 59A
Toward I 90 East
8
962.8 mi into trip
|
~18h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 106
Toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
8
963.2 mi into trip
|
~18h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth NH
8
1041.2 mi into trip
|
~19h 38m in
|
I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike toward I 95 North: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Maine Points
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, M...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chicago, IL and Dayton, ME, road signs point toward Cr 18: Youngstown, Milford, Waterbury, Taunton, Portsmouth New Hampshire and Portsmouth.
Cr 18: Youngstown
390 mi in
|
~7h 10m
|
via I 80
Milford
703.6 mi in
|
~12h 56m
Waterbury
836.6 mi in
|
~15h 34m
|
via I 84; US 6
Taunton
962.8 mi in
|
~18h 5m
Portsmouth New Hampshire
963 mi in
|
~18h 6m
Portsmouth
963.2 mi in
|
~18h 6m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 278.5 mi | 5h 2m |
| I 84 | 231.4 mi | 4h 36m |
| Ohio Turnpike | 218.2 mi | 3h 53m |
| Indiana Toll Road | 156.8 mi | 2h 52m |
| I 495 | 62.8 mi | 1h 13m |
| Blue Star Turnpike | 45 mi | 50m |
| I 81 | 34.7 mi | 42m |
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 27.4 mi | 31m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 278.5 mi, about 5h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Dayton, ME.
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: 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
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 59A
Toward I 90 East
Use the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
Use the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Chicago Skyway
Exit 59A
Toward I 90 East
Use the slight left lane.
13
Turn straight onto I 90
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Chicago Skyway
14
Merge onto I 90
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Chicago Skyway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 90
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
16
Turn straight onto I 90
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
17
Merge onto I 90
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
154 mi
·
2 hr 46 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 80; I 90
142 mi
·
2 hr 32 min
·
Ohio Turnpike
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
9.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Ohio Turnpike
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
67 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
Ohio Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit onto I 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
Exit 218
Toward I 80 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 80
Toward I 80 East, CR 18: Youngstown, Mahoning Avenue
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80
Toward I 80 East: Youngstown
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
273 mi
·
4 hr 54 min
·
I 80
26
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
27
Merge onto I 81
35 mi
·
42 min
·
I 81
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I-84 east, US 6 east
29
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mt Pocono, Milford
31
Merge onto I 84; I 380
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 84; I 380
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84
129 mi
·
2 hr 32 min
·
I 84
Toward I 84 East: Milford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
43 mi
·
50 min
·
I 84; US 6
Toward Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
14 mi
·
19 min
·
I 84
Use the slight right lane.
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
40 mi
·
46 min
·
I 84; US 6
Toward I 84 East: Boston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Merge onto I 90
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
38
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 106
Toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
Use the slight right lane.
39
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth New Hampshire
40
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth NH
Use the slight left lane.
41
Merge onto I 495
63 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
Merge onto I 95
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 95
43
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Blue Star Turnpike
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
44
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
37 mi
·
40 min
·
Blue Star Turnpike
Toward I 95 North: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Maine Points
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
45
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 35
Toward RT-112 North St: Saco, Buxton
46
Turn right onto ME 112
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Street
47
Turn right onto Garfield Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Garfield Street
48
At end of road, turn right onto ME 5
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Bradley Street
49
Continue on ME 5
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
New County Road
50
Turn right onto Hollis Road
1.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Hollis Road
51
Turn left onto Bickford Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Bickford Road
52
Turn right onto Wilderness Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilderness Drive
53
Arrive at destination
Wilderness Drive
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 3-day trip.
Plan roughly 5 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 543.4 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 9h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 278.5 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 220 miles or 4h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 543.4 miles or 9h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 362.3 miles or 6h 39m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 19h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dayton, ME 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 3-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chicago, IL
Aim for roughly 362 miles and 6.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 362 miles and 6.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Finish the approach into Dayton, ME
Aim for roughly 362 miles and 6.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Chicago, IL.
This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 5 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 278.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 543.4 mi from Chicago, IL · 9h 57m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
359 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
717 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Greenburgh, NYOvernight Options
Night 1
362 mi · about 6.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Jamestown, NY after about 362 miles or 6.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
725 mi · about 13.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Greenburgh, NY after about 725 miles or 13.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 543.4 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 278.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 362 miles or 6.9 hours on the road.
Arriving in Dayton, ME
The final approach into Dayton, ME 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 Dayton, ME.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Dayton, ME with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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
$169.91 one way
$339.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
380 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $186.55 | $373.11 |
| premium | $4.89 | $209.14 | $418.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $239.95 | $479.90 |
Estimated Tolls: $33.35
Indiana Toll Road
(156.8 mi)
$10.98
Ohio Turnpike
(218.2 mi)
$10.90
Chicago Skyway
$6.15
Blue Star Turnpike
(45 mi)
$3.15
Massachusetts Turnpike
(27.4 mi)
$1.64
Chicago Skyway
(7.6 mi)
$0.53
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$170
Tolls
$33
Hotel (2n)
$160–$280
Meals
$75–$150
Total
$438–$633
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 380.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $114 in charging · 4 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 326 | 4 | $114.11 | $52.17 |
| Efficient EV | 271.7 | 3 | $95.09 | $43.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 434.7 | 5 | $152.15 | $69.56 |
Gas CO2
380 kg
EV CO2
127 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 4 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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
Dayton, ME
Late night in Dayton on Wednesday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
20h 40m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Dayton, ME covers 1086.8 miles and takes about 20h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 84, Ohio Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 3-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 362 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 543.4 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 $169.91 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 5 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 44 significant decision points across 1086.8 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 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.3 miles (I 90 / Chicago Skyway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 962.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Chicago, IL and Dayton, ME, road signs point toward Cr 18: Youngstown, Milford, Waterbury, Taunton, Portsmouth New Hampshire and Portsmouth.
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