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Drive Time
19m
Distance
11.2 mi
18 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Lyons, IL
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking to travel from Chicago to Lyons, Illinois, you are in for a quick, straightforward local trip. Covering just 11.2 miles, this drive typically takes about 19 minutes depending on traffic conditions. Since the distance is so short, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will spend roughly $2 on fuel, making this a very budget-friendly commute within the Midwest. Navigating through local streets like West Cermak Road, South Halsted Street, and South Canalport Avenue, the trip is entirely free of highways. It is an ideal route if you need to move between these two Illinois locations efficiently.
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
5.6 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .
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Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience. Because 0% of this 11.2-mile journey is on a highway, you will be navigating urban streets for the entire duration. There is no long, uninterrupted stretch of road here, as the route is defined by the constant transitions between South Canalport Avenue, South Halsted Street, and West Cermak Road. Behind the wheel, you should be prepared for frequent stops and turns as you make your way through the local landscape. This is a practical, utilitarian drive that requires your full attention on city navigation rather than cruise control.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 11.2 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 0.4 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: St Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto West Pershing Road
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Stevenson Expressway | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| West Pershing Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Joliet Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 43rd Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Cicero Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Harlem Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Halsted Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Lyons, IL.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn right onto West Cermak Road
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
Turn slight right
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 55
Take the exit
Turn right onto IL 50
Turn left onto West Pershing Road
Turn left onto IL 43
Turn slight right onto Joliet Road
Continue on 43rd Street
Continue on 43rd Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 19-minute travel time, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure schedule. Since there are no designated stops on this route, you can easily manage the trip in one go without needing to plan for long breaks. Keep in mind that as a purely local drive, traffic patterns on city streets can fluctuate, so checking your GPS before you head out is a smart move. With no highway miles to worry about, focus on navigating the specific turn-heavy intersections along West Cermak Road. Because the fuel cost is estimated at just $2, you can complete this trip without worrying about refueling stops along the way.
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.
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 11.2 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.6 miles or 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lyons, IL than in the middle of the route.
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 11.2 miles and 19m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.6 mi from Chicago, IL · 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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.
A short stop after about 11.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 5.6 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Lyons, 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 Lyons, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$1.75 one way
$3.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.92 | $3.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.16 | $4.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.47 | $4.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.18 | $0.54 |
| Efficient EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.98 | $0.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.57 | $0.72 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
7:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Evening in Lyons on Tuesday
Local time
7:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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