Trip from Chicago, IL to Gurnee, IL

Q: How long is the trip from Chicago, IL to Gurnee, IL?

The drive from Chicago, IL to Gurnee, IL covers 41.3 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are Edens Expressway, South Skokie Highway, Kennedy Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 20.7 miles from Chicago, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: What towns do you pass through driving from Chicago, IL to Gurnee, IL?

The route from Chicago, IL to Gurnee, IL follows a direct path without passing through any major named waypoints on road signs.

Drive Time

55m

Distance

41.3 mi

66 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min

4 AM

0h 51m ★

6 AM

0h 56m

8 AM

1h 5m

10 AM

0h 59m

12 PM

0h 58m

3 PM

0h 59m

5 PM

1h 4m

8 PM

0h 53m

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

village in Lake County, Illinois, United States

Gurnee, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick getaway from Chicago to Gurnee, you can expect a manageable 41.3-mile journey that typically takes about 55 minutes. This Midwest route is perfectly suited for a one-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it remains a very affordable trek between these two Illinois hubs. You will spend your time navigating through a mix of urban and suburban landscapes, making this an ideal choice for a spontaneous outing. Because the total travel time is under an hour, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule without feeling rushed.

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

20.7 miles from Chicago, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition from city streets to suburban corridors. You will rely on the Kennedy Expressway, the Edens Expressway, and the South Skokie Highway to cover the distance, with highways accounting for 55% of your total travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 13.5-mile segment on the Edens Expressway. As you move north, the road’s personality shifts from the dense, high-traffic feel of Chicago’s major arteries to the more varied flow of the South Skokie Highway. You should be prepared for a drive that balances fast-paced highway movement with the standard traffic patterns typical of the Illinois region.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Edens Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.5 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 12 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.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate — some attention needed at key points

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.3 miles you will encounter 12 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): 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 12 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

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

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

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

40.8 mi into trip | ~54m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue, Grandville Avenue

40.9 mi into trip | ~54m in

Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward IL 132: Great America

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Edens Expressway	13.5 mi	17m
South Skokie Highway	9.8 mi	12m
Kennedy Expressway	8.2 mi	11m
Skokie Highway	3.8 mi	4m
Skokie Valley Road	3.4 mi	3m
Dan Ryan Expressway	0.9 mi	1m
Grand Avenue	0.3 mi	<1m
West Cermak Road	0.2 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Edens Expressway — 13.5 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on the route

0.2 mi · 1 min · the route

At the end of the road, turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Cermak Road

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · South Halsted Street

Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

0.2 mi · 23 sec · South Canalport Avenue

Turn left onto South Ruble Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · South Ruble Street

Take the ramp straight toward I 90 West, I 94 West

0.3 mi · 43 sec · I 90 West, I 94 West

Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway

0.9 mi · 1 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Continue on Kennedy Expressway

8.2 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway

Continue on Edens Expressway

14 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

Keep slight left to continue on Skokie Highway

3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

Continue on Skokie Valley Road

3.4 mi · 3 min · Skokie Valley Road

Continue on South Skokie Highway

9.8 mi · 12 min · South Skokie Highway

Take the exit slight right toward IL 132: Grand Avenue, Grandville Avenue

0.2 mi · 25 sec · IL 132: Grand Avenue, Grandville Avenue

Keep slight left to continue on IL 132: Great America

276 ft · 10 sec · IL 132: Great America

Turn slight left onto Grand Avenue

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Grand Avenue

Turn left onto North Greenleaf Street

92 ft · 4 sec · North Greenleaf Street

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a short, 55-minute drive, you have the advantage of choosing a departure time that best fits your personal itinerary. Keep in mind that there are no required stops on this 41.3-mile stretch, allowing you to drive straight through if you wish. Given the reliance on major expressways, it is wise to check local traffic reports before you leave to avoid potential congestion on the Kennedy or Edens sections. Your fuel expenses will be minimal at around $6, so you can focus your travel budget elsewhere. A helpful tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the transition points between the Kennedy and Edens Expressways to ensure you stay on the most efficient path toward Gurnee.

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 20.7 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.5 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 41.3 miles or 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 20.7 miles or 29m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gurnee, 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 41.3 miles and 55m.

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.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on Edens Expressway for about 13.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20.7 mi from Chicago, IL · 29m into the drive

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Glenview, IL

21 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

Waukegan, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 41.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Glenview, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.7 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Gurnee, IL

The final approach into Gurnee, 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 Gurnee, 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

$6.13 one way

$12.26 round trip

$3.77/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$6.92	$13.83
premium	$4.65	$7.57	$15.13
diesel	$5.30	$8.62	$17.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	12.4	$4.34	$1.98
Efficient EV	10.3	$3.61	$1.65
EV Truck/SUV	16.5	$5.78	$2.64

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 5 hours ago

Origin

Chicago, IL

Evening in Chicago on Monday

Local time

5:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 15 mph 39% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:50AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 11:45AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Gurnee, IL

Evening in Gurnee on Monday

Local time

5:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°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

33 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

55m 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 Gurnee, IL covers 41.3 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Edens Expressway, South Skokie Highway, Kennedy Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 20.7 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 $6.13 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.