Origin
Chicago, IL
Late night in Chicago on Saturday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chicago, IL to Mount Vernon, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 9m
Distance
277 mi
446 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 56m
★
6 AM
5h 10m
8 AM
5h 37m
10 AM
5h 19m
12 PM
5h 16m
3 PM
5h 21m
5 PM
5h 35m
8 PM
5h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Mount Vernon, IL
Michaela Schmidt
Trip Overview
The drive from Chicago, IL to Mount Vernon, IL covers 277 miles and takes about 5h 9m 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 $41.12 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
138.5 miles from Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
About the Cities
Starting in Chicago, IL
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 277 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 9m drive with frequent turns across 277 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 9m 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 Mount Vernon, 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 90 | — | — |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | — | — |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | — | — |
| I 57 South | — | — |
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 Mount Vernon, 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 left to continue on I 90, I 94 East: Indiana
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 90, I 94 East: Indiana
8
Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
9
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis
201 mi
·
3 hr 40 min
·
I 57 South: Memphis
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis
63 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
I 57 South: Memphis
12
Take the exit slight right toward IL 15: Ashley, Mt. Vernon
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
IL 15: Ashley, Mt. Vernon
13
Turn straight onto Broadway Street
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Broadway Street
14
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 138.5 miles from Chicago, IL, or about 2h 34m 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 61 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.5 miles or 2h 34m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Vernon, 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 277 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 138.5 mi from Chicago, IL · 2h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 138.5 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mount Vernon, IL
The final approach into Mount Vernon, 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 Mount Vernon, 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
$41.12 one way
$82.25 round trip
$3.77/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $46.38 | $92.76 |
| premium | $4.65 | $50.75 | $101.51 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $57.84 | $115.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.1 | 1 | $29.08 | $13.30 |
| Efficient EV | 69.3 | 0 | $24.24 | $11.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110.8 | 1 | $38.78 | $17.73 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Destination
Mount Vernon, IL
Late night in Mount Vernon on Saturday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
5 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
5h 9m 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 Mount Vernon, IL covers 277 miles and takes about 5h 9m 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 138.5 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 $41.12 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 5h 9m 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 Mount Vernon, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chicago, IL to Mount Vernon, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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