Trip from Chicago, IL to Guilford, IL

Drive Time

3h 37m

Distance

161 mi

259 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

3h 25m ★

6 AM

3h 37m

8 AM

4h 2m

10 AM

3h 46m

12 PM

3h 43m

3 PM

3h 47m

5 PM

4h 1m

8 PM

3h 30m

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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Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

Trip Overview

If you are looking to escape the city for a change of pace, this 161-mile trip from Chicago to Guilford is a manageable day trip. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 37 minutes behind the wheel as you transition from the urban Midwest into the quieter, rural stretches of Illinois. Budget approximately $24 for fuel to cover the journey, which relies on a combination of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, and South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road. Because the total duration is under four hours, you can easily complete this in a single day without needing an overnight stay. While you will only need one primary stop, the route offers enough variety to keep the drive engaging from start to finish.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

80.5 miles from Chicago, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a trip that shifts significantly in tone as you leave the metro area. You will start with a 59.4-mile stretch on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the journey. Once you exit the main highways, which account for only 9% of the total distance, the character of the road changes into a turn-heavy local drive. Navigating the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway and South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road requires more focused attention due to the winding nature of the path. This transition from fast-paced tollways to technical local roads ensures that you stay alert and engaged throughout the latter half of the trip.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 59.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 161 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 0.5 miles (South Canalport Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

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

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.

0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | South Halsted Street

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | South Canalport Avenue

Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in | South Ruble Street

Turn left onto South Ruble Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

9.9 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward Montrose Avenue

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 43C Toward Montrose Avenue

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway	59.4 mi	1h 3m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway	55.1 mi	1h 9m
South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road	8.1 mi	14m
Kennedy Expressway	7.9 mi	11m
South Galena Avenue	7.3 mi	13m
US 20 Business	3.6 mi	5m
West Higgins Road	3.1 mi	5m
I 39	2.6 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — 59.4 mi, about 1h 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on this road

0.2 mi · 1 min · this road

At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Cermak Road

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · South Halsted Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

0.2 mi · 22 sec · South Canalport Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto South Ruble Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · South Ruble Street

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Toward I 90 West, I 94 West

Merge onto I 90; I 94

0.9 mi · 1 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 90; I 94

7.9 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 43C Toward Montrose Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Montrose Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Milwaukee Avenue

Turn left onto North Northwest Highway

67 ft · 1 sec · North Northwest Highway

Continue on North Northwest Highway

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Northwest Highway

Use the none lane.

Turn slight left onto West Bryn Mawr Avenue

1.8 mi · 4 min · West Bryn Mawr Avenue

Use the left lane.

Continue on IL 72

3.1 mi · 5 min · West Higgins Road

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Toward I 90 Toll West

Merge onto I 90

59 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington

Merge onto I 39; US 51

0.5 mi · 30 sec · I 39; US 51

Continue on I 39; US 20; US 51

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 39; US 20; US 51

Keep slight left at fork onto US 20

30 mi · 34 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Take the exit onto US 20 Business

3.6 mi · 5 min · US 20 Business

Toward US 20 BUS: Freeport

Turn slight right onto US 20 Business

7.3 mi · 13 min · South Galena Avenue

Turn left onto US 20

14 mi · 19 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Continue on US 20; IL 78

2.1 mi · 3 min · East North Avenue

Continue on US 20

6.4 mi · 8 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Continue on US 20

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Woodbine Street

Continue on US 20

4.6 mi · 6 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Continue on US 20

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Turn straight onto US 20

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Diagonal Street

Continue on US 20

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Madison Street

Turn right onto CR 4

8.1 mi · 14 min · South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road

Turn left onto West Rawlins Road

1.9 mi · 4 min · West Rawlins Road

Continue on West Guilford Road

0.4 mi · 56 sec · West Guilford Road

Arrive at destination

West Guilford Road

Trip Plan

To make the most of your day, aim to depart early to avoid lingering city traffic, which will help you reach your destination with plenty of daylight to spare. Since this is a 161-mile trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel before hitting the more winding local segments. The flexibility of a shorter drive means you don't have to rush, so take advantage of the ability to pace yourself according to local road conditions. Pay close attention to your navigation when switching from the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway to South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road, as the turn-heavy nature of the final stretch can be easy to miscalculate if you aren't watching your speed. Keeping your fuel costs around $24 ensures you have a straightforward budget for the road ahead.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 80.5 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 1h 40m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.4 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 80 miles or 1h 39m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 80.5 miles or 1h 40m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 48m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guilford, 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 161 miles and 3h 37m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 59.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 80.5 mi from Chicago, IL · 1h 40m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

81 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.5 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Guilford, IL

The final approach into Guilford, 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 Guilford, 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

$24.45 one way

$48.91 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$26.96	$53.92
premium	$4.80	$30.39	$60.79
diesel	$5.64	$35.77	$71.54

Estimated Tolls: $4.16

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (59.4 mi) $4.16

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

$24

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	48.3	$16.90	$7.73
Efficient EV	40.3	$14.09	$6.44
EV Truck/SUV	64.4	$22.54	$10.30

Gas CO2

56 kg

EV CO2

19 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Chicago, IL

Evening in Chicago on Sunday

Local time

6:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Guilford, IL

Evening in Guilford on Sunday

Local time

6:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°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.

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

27 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

3h 37m 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 Guilford, IL covers 161 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 80.5 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 $24.45 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The route from Chicago, IL to Guilford, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Guilford, IL to Chicago, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

162.1 mi 3h 32m

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Trip from Chicago, IL to Guilford, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Guilford, IL

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Chicago, IL

Guilford, IL

Same local time

27 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 37m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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