Origin
Chicago, IL
Evening in Chicago on Sunday
Local time
7:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chicago, IL to Northbrook, IL
Drive Time
40m
Distance
25.9 mi
42 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Northbrook, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick commute from Chicago to Northbrook, expect a straightforward 25.9-mile journey that typically takes about 40 minutes. This trip is ideally suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can anticipate a fuel cost of approximately $4, making this an economical trip within the Midwest. The route relies heavily on major expressways, which keeps the travel time predictable. Because both cities are located within Illinois, you will remain in the same region throughout your drive. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that gets you from the heart of the city to the northern suburbs with minimal fuss.
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
12.9 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 25.9-mile journey is heavily highway-focused, with about 70% of the route spent on fast-moving lanes. You will navigate the Kennedy Expressway and the Edens Expressway, which accounts for the most significant portion of your time behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a 9-mile segment on the Edens Expressway, providing a consistent pace before you transition onto local roads like Waukegan Road. While the interstate sections offer a high-speed experience, the character of the drive shifts once you exit the highway and head toward your destination. Expect a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed and direct access over winding, scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Edens Expressway and Kennedy Expressway. You will hit about 16 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 - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 25.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
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.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Halsted Street
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Canalport Avenue
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South Ruble Street
Turn left onto South Ruble Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
19.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward Lake Avenue West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 34B
Toward Lake Avenue West
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Chicago, IL to Northbrook, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Avenue West along the way.
Lake Avenue West
19.2 mi in
|
~27m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Edens Expressway | 9 mi | 11m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| Waukegan Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Lake Avenue | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Walters Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Canalport Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Edens Expressway
— 9 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Northbrook, IL.
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
Use the none lane.
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
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
Use the none lane.
5
Turn left onto South Ruble Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
South Ruble Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West
7
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the none lane.
8
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 94
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 34B
Toward Lake Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto Lake Avenue
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Avenue
Use the none lane.
12
Turn right onto IL 43
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Waukegan Road
Use the none lane.
13
Turn left onto Walters Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Walters Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Meadow Road
474 ft
·
29 sec
·
Meadow Road
15
Turn left onto Shermer Road
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Shermer Road
16
Turn right onto Walters Avenue
121 ft
·
3 sec
·
Walters Avenue
17
Turn right onto 1st Street
294 ft
·
14 sec
·
1st Street
18
Turn right
298 ft
·
21 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 40-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should keep an eye on local traffic patterns common on the Kennedy and Edens Expressways. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, as the entire distance can be covered in one go. Budgeting $4 for fuel is a safe estimate for this quick trip across northern Illinois. To make the most of your travel, try to avoid peak rush hours if you want a smoother experience on the expressway segments. Staying alert during the transition from the high-speed Edens Expressway to the surface streets of Waukegan Road will ensure you arrive in Northbrook without any unnecessary stress.
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 12.9 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9 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 25.9 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.9 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Northbrook, 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 25.9 miles and 40m.
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 9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.9 mi from Chicago, IL · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 25.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.9 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Northbrook, IL
The final approach into Northbrook, 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 Northbrook, 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
$3.93 one way
$7.87 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $4.34 | $8.67 |
| premium | $4.80 | $4.89 | $9.78 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.75 | $11.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.72 | $1.24 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Northbrook, IL
Evening in Northbrook on Sunday
Local time
7:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
5 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
40m 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 Northbrook, IL covers 25.9 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Edens Expressway, Kennedy Expressway, Waukegan Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.9 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 $3.93 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 25.9 miles you will encounter 16 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): 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.
On the drive from Chicago, IL to Northbrook, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Avenue West along the way.
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