Traveling from Chicago to Roxana covers 280.4 miles, a journey that takes approximately 5 hours and 23 minutes. Because this route relies entirely on local streets rather than highways, you should plan for a full day of driving. Budget about $42 for fuel to cover the distance across the Illinois landscape. While a single day is sufficient to complete the trip, the turn-heavy nature of the route requires your full attention behind the wheel. It serves as a practical, direct transit between these two Midwest locations without the typical interstate experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
140.2 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 42m into the drive
.
Drive Character
Expect a hands-on driving experience, as this route consists of 0% highway travel. You will navigate via West Cermak Road, South Halsted Street, and South Canalport Avenue, requiring constant focus on turns and local traffic patterns. Because there is no highway infrastructure, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on West Cermak Road. This turn-heavy local drive demands patience, as you will be managing frequent speed changes and intersections rather than maintaining a steady cruise-control pace.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 128.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and I 55. 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 Complexity7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 280.4 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): Navigation decision point; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 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 right onto West Cermak Road
Navigation decision point
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.
8
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in
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
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive
8
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: St Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 53B
Toward I 55 South: St Louis
8
136.1 mi into trip|~2h 38m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chicago, IL and Roxana, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Greenville.
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Roxana, 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
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
285 ft·5 sec·South Canalport Avenue
5
Turn slight right
110 ft·4 sec
6
Take the ramp
455 ft·11 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore DriveUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 53BToward I 55 South: St LouisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 55
5.6 mi·7 min·Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 55
0.3 mi·27 sec·Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
11
Continue on I 55
129 mi·2 hr 26 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
63 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
15
Turn right onto IL 140
0.7 mi·1 min·East State Street
16
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi·13 min·State Route 140
17
Continue on IL 140
1.8 mi·3 min·East Bethalto Drive
18
Turn left onto IL 111
0.9 mi·1 min·North Bellwood Drive
19
Continue on IL 111
0.7 mi·1 min·South Bellwood Drive
20
Continue on IL 111
1.7 mi·3 min·Vaughn Road
21
Continue on IL 111
1.0 mi·2 min·North Central Avenue
22
Turn left onto East Tydeman Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·East Tydeman Street
23
Turn right
46 ft·7 sec
24
Turn left
52 ft·2 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this 5-hour and 23-minute drive lacks highway speed, prioritize an early morning departure to avoid peak local traffic congestion. You should schedule at least one stop to stretch your legs and reset, especially given the repetitive nature of navigating local streets. Keep your $42 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling stops, as local roads may offer different gas station accessibility compared to major interstates. To make the trip more manageable, pay close attention to your navigation system early on to master the transitions between West Cermak Road and South Halsted Street.
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 140.2 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.7 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 62 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.2 miles or 2h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roxana, 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 280.4 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 Adlai Stevenson Expressway for about 128.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 140.2 mi from Chicago, IL
· 2h 42m into the drive
The midpoint is around 140.2 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Adlai Stevenson Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128.7 miles.
Arriving in Roxana, IL
The final approach into Roxana, 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 Roxana, IL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.84 one way
$87.67 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$48.13
$96.26
premium
$4.89
$53.96
$107.92
diesel
$5.61
$61.91
$123.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.1
1
$29.44
$13.46
Efficient EV
70.1
0
$24.53
$11.22
EV Truck/SUV
112.2
1
$39.26
$17.95
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Chicago, IL
Night
in Chicago on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph75% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 19 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Roxana, IL
Night
in Roxana on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bloomington, IL
140 mi in
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
3 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
5h 23m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Roxana, IL covers 280.4 miles and takes about 5h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 55, State Route 140. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 140.2 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 $43.84 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 280.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Cermak Road): Navigation decision point; 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.
Between Chicago, IL and Roxana, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Greenville.
