Origin
Chicago, IL
Morning in Chicago on Saturday
Local time
10:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 54m
Distance
148 mi
238 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Heyworth, IL
Vie Studio
The drive from Chicago, IL to Heyworth, IL covers 148 miles and takes about 2h 54m 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 $23.14 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
74 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Chicago is the home of the blues and the truth of jazz, the heart of comedy and the idea of the skyscraper. Here, the age of railroads found its center, and airplanes followed suit. "Stormy, Husky, Brawling / City of Big Shoulders," Chicago is a Heartland boomtown, its ethos defined by urban planner Daniel Burnham's immortal vision: "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." It is one of the world's great cities and the third largest city in the United States, behind only New York City and Los Angeles. As the hub of the Midwest, Chicago is easy to find — its picturesque skyline calls across the waters of Lake Michigan, a first impression that soon reveals world-class museums of art and science, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks and public art, and perhaps the finest downtown collection of modern architecture in the world.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 148 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 2h 54m drive with frequent turns across 148 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Chicago, IL to Heyworth, IL is easy. At 2h 54m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chicago, IL to Heyworth, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| 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.
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Heyworth, 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 slight right
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 East, I 94 East
Keep slight right to continue on I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: St Louis
Merge slight left onto Stevenson Expressway
Continue on Adlai E Stevenson Expressway
Continue on Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
Take the exit slight right toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Decatur, Bloomington
Continue on North 1450 East Road
Take the exit slight right toward US 136: Heyworth, McLean
Turn left onto East 200 North Road
Continue on West Cleveland Street
Turn left onto Emery Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74 miles or 1h 27m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Heyworth, 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 148 miles and 2h 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74 mi from Chicago, IL · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 74 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Heyworth, 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 Heyworth, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$23.14 one way
$46.28 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.40 | $50.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.48 | $56.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.68 | $65.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.4 | 0 | $15.54 | $7.10 |
| Efficient EV | 37 | 0 | $12.95 | $5.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.2 | 0 | $20.72 | $9.47 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Chicago on Saturday
Local time
10:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Heyworth on Saturday
Local time
10:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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