Trip from Chicago, IL to Saline, IL

Drive Time

6h 32m

Distance

335 mi

539 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$51

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

6h 20m ★

6 AM

6h 33m

8 AM

6h 57m

10 AM

6h 41m

12 PM

6h 39m

3 PM

6h 42m

5 PM

6h 56m

8 PM

6h 25m

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

Traveling from Chicago to Saline covers 335 miles across the Illinois heartland. Expect a total driving time of approximately 6 hours and 32 minutes, making this a manageable but long day trip for most drivers. You will spend the vast majority of your journey on major thoroughfares, including the Dan Ryan Expressway, the Ken Gray Expressway, and I-57. Budgeting around $50 for fuel is a safe estimate for the trip. Since the entire route stays within the Midwest, you can anticipate a consistent regional feel as you head south. Whether you choose to power through in one day or break it up, having a clear plan for your single planned stop will help keep your energy levels steady.

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

167.5 miles from Chicago, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 8m into the drive .

Drive Character

This journey is defined by a high-speed, highway-focused character, with 94% of your time spent on interstates. You should be prepared for a significant, monotonous stretch, as 266.5 miles of your trip take place entirely on I-57. While the Dan Ryan Expressway moves you efficiently out of the Chicago area, the drive settles into a predictable rhythm once you hit the open highway. The road remains fast and direct, prioritizing efficiency over technical curves or local scenery. You will spend most of your time behind the wheel focused on long, straight stretches that demand steady attention rather than complex navigation.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 266.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. 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 18 significant decision points across 335 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 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 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.

0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 90, I 94 East: Indiana

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 90, I 94 East: Indiana

1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express

10.4 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 57

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 South: Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 63 Toward I 57 South: Memphis

Towns Along This Route

Between Chicago, IL and Saline, IL, road signs point toward Marion and Carbondale.

Marion

314.3 mi in | ~5h 47m

Carbondale

314.3 mi in | ~5h 47m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 57	266.5 mi	4h 51m
Ken Gray Expressway	37.4 mi	40m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)	8.8 mi	11m
West Deyoung Street	7.8 mi	11m
Stonefort Road	5.1 mi	12m
Saraville Road	3.7 mi	8m
Will Scarlet Road	1.3 mi	5m
Crab Orchard Road	0.9 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 57 — 266.5 mi, about 4h 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Saline, 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

285 ft · 5 sec · South Canalport Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn slight right

110 ft · 4 sec

Take the ramp

455 ft · 11 sec

Toward I 90 East, I 94 East

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 90, I 94 East: Indiana Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 90; I 94

0.7 mi · 47 sec · Dan Ryan Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

8.8 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

201 mi · 3 hr 40 min · I 57

Exit 63 Toward I 57 South: Memphis Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 57

Toward I 57 South: Memphis

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

37 mi · 40 min · Ken Gray Expressway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 59 sec

Toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Merge onto IL 13

7.8 mi · 11 min · West Deyoung Street

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto Crab Orchard Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · Crab Orchard Road

Turn right onto Saraville Road

3.7 mi · 8 min · Saraville Road

Keep slight left at fork onto Stonefort Road

5.1 mi · 12 min · Stonefort Road

Continue on Will Scarlet Road

1.3 mi · 5 min · Will Scarlet Road

Turn left onto Peabody Road

0.7 mi · 2 min · Peabody Road

Arrive at destination

Peabody Road

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 335-mile trek, try to depart early in the morning to avoid the heaviest traffic near Chicago. Given the 6-hour and 32-minute duration, pace yourself by utilizing your one planned stop strategically to stretch your legs and refuel. Since you are spending nearly the entire drive on interstates, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longest 266.5-mile stretch on I-57 to ensure you don't run low between major service exits. Because this is a highway-heavy drive, having a good playlist or podcast queue is essential for staying alert during the long, uninterrupted interstate segments. Flexibility is your best friend here, so adjust your departure time if weather or peak commuter hours look unfavorable.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

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

The halfway point lands around 167.5 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 3h 8m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 266.5 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 167.5 miles or 3h 8m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saline, 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 335 miles and 6h 32m.

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 I 57 for about 266.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 167.5 mi from Chicago, IL · 3h 8m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Plainfield, IL

168 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

New Lenox, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 167.5 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 I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 266.5 miles.

Arriving in Saline, IL

The final approach into Saline, 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 Saline, 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

$50.88 one way

$101.77 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 117 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$56.09	$112.19
premium	$4.80	$63.24	$126.48
diesel	$5.64	$74.43	$148.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$51

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$76–$101

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 117.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	100.5	1	$35.18	$16.08
Efficient EV	83.8	0	$29.31	$13.40
EV Truck/SUV	134	1	$46.90	$21.44

Gas CO2

117 kg

EV CO2

39 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Chicago, IL

Afternoon in Chicago on Sunday

Local time

2:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Saline, IL

Afternoon in Saline on Sunday

Local time

2:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°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

13 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

6h 32m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Saline, IL covers 335 miles and takes about 6h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 167.5 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 $50.88 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

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.

Between Chicago, IL and Saline, IL, road signs point toward Marion and Carbondale.

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Return Trip

Saline, IL to Chicago, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

341.9 mi 6h 31m

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