Drive Time
3h 37m
Distance
161 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
Photo: Mike Tyurin
The drive from Chicago, IL to Guilford, IL covers 161 miles and takes about 3h 37m 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 $23.90 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.5 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 37m drive with frequent turns across 161 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Cermak Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Halsted Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Canalport Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Ruble Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kennedy Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Montrose Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Guilford, IL.
Start on the route
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Cermak Road
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
Turn left onto South Ruble Street
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 West, I 94 West
Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway
Continue on Kennedy Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward Montrose Avenue
Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue
Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue
Turn left onto North Northwest Highway
Continue on North Northwest Highway
Turn slight left onto West Bryn Mawr Avenue
Continue on West Higgins Road
Take the ramp right toward I 90 Toll West
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Take the exit slight right toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
Merge slight right
Continue straight
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 BUS: Freeport
Turn slight right onto South Galena Avenue
Turn left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on East North Avenue
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on East Woodbine Street
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on South Main Street
Turn straight onto Diagonal Street
Continue on West Madison Street
Turn right onto South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road
Turn left onto West Rawlins Road
Continue on West Guilford Road
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.5 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guilford, 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 161 miles and 3h 37m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.5 mi from Chicago, IL · 1h 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 80.5 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Guilford, 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 Guilford, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$23.90 one way
$47.81 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.96 | $53.92 |
| premium | $4.65 | $29.50 | $59.00 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $33.62 | $67.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.90 | $7.73 |
| Efficient EV | 40.3 | 0 | $14.09 | $6.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.54 | $10.30 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Chicago on Saturday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Guilford on Saturday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
43°F
Rockford, IL
81 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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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