Origin
Chicago, IL
Night in Chicago on Wednesday
Local time
9:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chicago, IL to Ashland, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 15m
Distance
215.4 mi
347 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 2m
★
6 AM
4h 16m
8 AM
4h 42m
10 AM
4h 25m
12 PM
4h 22m
3 PM
4h 26m
5 PM
4h 41m
8 PM
4h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Ashland, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Chicago, IL to Ashland, IL covers 215.4 miles and takes about 4h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Cermak Road, South Halsted Street, South Canalport Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
107.7 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 15m drive with frequent turns across 215.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Cermak Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 15m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chicago, IL to Ashland, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Cermak Road | — | — |
| South Halsted Street | — | — |
| South Canalport Avenue | — | — |
| I 90 East | — | — |
| I 55 | — | — |
| I 55 South | — | — |
| Stevenson Expressway | — | — |
| Adlai E Stevenson Expressway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Cermak Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Ashland, IL.
1
Start on the route
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
the route
2
At the end of the 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
4
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
285 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
5
Turn slight right
112 ft
·
5 sec
6
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 East, I 94 East
456 ft
·
11 sec
·
I 90 East, I 94 East
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: St Louis
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 55 South: St Louis
9
Merge slight left onto Stevenson Expressway
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Stevenson Expressway
10
Continue on Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
11
Continue on Adlai Stevenson Expressway
129 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
52 mi
·
56 min
·
I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
13
Take the exit slight right toward Sherman
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Sherman
14
Keep slight right to continue on Sherman
318 ft
·
8 sec
·
Sherman
15
Merge slight left onto South Sherman Boulevard
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Sherman Boulevard
16
Continue on Veterans Parkway
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Veterans Parkway
17
Take the exit slight right
476 ft
·
15 sec
18
Turn straight onto West Jefferson Street
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
West Jefferson Street
19
Continue straight
12 mi
·
17 min
20
Continue on East Fremont Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Fremont Street
21
Turn left onto North Athens Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Athens Street
22
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Washington Street
23
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 107.7 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
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 47 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.7 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashland, 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 215.4 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 107.7 mi from Chicago, IL · 2h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 107.7 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ashland, IL
The final approach into Ashland, 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 Ashland, 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
$33.68 one way
$67.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.97 | $73.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.45 | $82.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.56 | $95.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.6 | 0 | $22.62 | $10.34 |
| Efficient EV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.85 | $8.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.2 | 1 | $30.16 | $13.79 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Ashland, IL
Night in Ashland on Wednesday
Local time
9:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bloomington, IL
108 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
24 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
4h 15m 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 Ashland, IL covers 215.4 miles and takes about 4h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Cermak Road, South Halsted Street, South Canalport Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 107.7 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 $33.68 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 straightforward 4h 15m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chicago, IL to Ashland, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chicago, IL to Ashland, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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