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Trip from Chicago, IL to Franklin Park, IL

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

28m

Distance

17.3 mi

28 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 27m ★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 27m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown chicago-il

Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Franklin Park, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Chicago to Franklin Park is a quick, straightforward journey spanning 17.3 miles within the Midwest. You can expect to complete this trip in about 28 minutes, making it a highly efficient excursion that easily fits into a single day. With a fuel cost of just $3, this is an incredibly budget-friendly transit between these two Illinois locations. Since the entire drive takes less than half an hour, there is absolutely no need for an overnight stay or complex logistics. It serves as a simple, practical connection for those needing to navigate between the city and the suburbs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 17.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way out of the city. Because the route consists entirely of local roads with 0% highway share, you will be dealing with constant traffic adjustments rather than high-speed cruising. There is no singular long, uninterrupted stretch, so your focus will remain on maneuvering through urban and suburban intersections. This drive lacks the monotony of an interstate grind, requiring you to stay alert and ready for frequent turns. It is a functional, stop-and-go experience that prioritizes short-distance navigation over scenic highway transit.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Eisenhower Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 9.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Cermak Road.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 2.7 miles (West Van Buren Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 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 left onto West Cermak Road

Navigation decision point

6
2.7 mi into trip | ~6m in | West Van Buren Street

Turn left onto West Van Buren Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
5
3 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway

Merge onto I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
12.7 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward North 25th Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 18B Toward North 25th Avenue
5
17.3 mi into trip | ~28m in | Franklin Avenue

Turn left onto Franklin Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Eisenhower Expressway 9.8 mi 13m
South 25th Avenue 4.4 mi 8m
South Ashland Avenue 1.7 mi 3m
West Cermak Road 0.8 mi 1m
West Van Buren Street 0.2 mi <1m
Franklin Avenue <0.1 mi

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Eisenhower Expressway — 9.8 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

0.2 mi · 1 min · this road
2

At end of road, turn left onto West Cermak Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Cermak Road
3

Turn right onto South Ashland Avenue

1.7 mi · 3 min · South Ashland Avenue
4

Turn left onto West Van Buren Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · West Van Buren Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
5

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Toward I 290 West
6

Merge onto I 290; IL 110

9.8 mi · 13 min · Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Exit 18B Toward North 25th Avenue Use the slight right lane.
8

Turn straight onto South 25th Avenue

4.4 mi · 8 min · South 25th Avenue
Use the left lane.
9

Turn left onto Franklin Avenue

45 ft · 0 sec · Franklin Avenue
Use the left lane.
10

Arrive at destination

Franklin Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.70 one way

$5.41 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $2.97 $5.94
premium $4.89 $3.33 $6.66
diesel $5.61 $3.82 $7.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.2 0 $1.82 $0.83
Efficient EV 4.3 0 $1.51 $0.69
EV Truck/SUV 6.9 0 $2.42 $1.11

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (67% 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 17, 2026

Origin

Chicago, IL

Night in Chicago on Thursday

Local time

10:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Areas Of Fog

ENE 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Franklin Park, IL

Night in Franklin Park on Thursday

Local time

10:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°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

24 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

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 Franklin Park, IL covers 17.3 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Eisenhower Expressway, South 25th Avenue, South Ashland Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.6 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 $2.70 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 17.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 2.7 miles (West Van Buren Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 290; IL 110 / Eisenhower Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chicago, IL to Franklin Park, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Franklin Park, IL to Chicago, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

17.9 mi 28m

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