Origin
Chicago, IL
Morning in Chicago on Saturday
Local time
11:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chicago, IL to Prairie Grove, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
49.7 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Prairie Grove, IL
Andrew Patrick Photo
Trip Overview
The drive from Chicago, IL to Prairie Grove, IL covers 49.7 miles and takes about 1h 21m 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 $7.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
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.
Top landmarks
- • Willis Tower — skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois
- • Art Institute of Chicago — art museum and school in Chicago, United States
- • Wrigley Field — baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, USA; home venue of the Chicago Cubs
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 1h 21m. Total distance: 49.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 21m drive with frequent turns across 49.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Chicago, IL to Prairie Grove, IL is easy. At 1h 21m 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 Prairie Grove, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Cermak Road | — | — |
| South Halsted Street | — | — |
| South Canalport Avenue | — | — |
| South Ruble Street | — | — |
| I 90 West | — | — |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | — | — |
| Kennedy Expressway | — | — |
| Edens 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 Prairie Grove, 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
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
5
Turn left onto South Ruble Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Ruble Street
6
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 West, I 94 West
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 90 West, I 94 West
7
Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
8
Continue on Kennedy Expressway
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
9
Continue on Edens Expressway
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Edens Expressway
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue
11
Turn slight right onto North Caldwell Avenue
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Caldwell Avenue
12
Turn left onto West Touhy Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Touhy Avenue
13
Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue
466 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
14
Continue on North Milwaukee Avenue
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
15
Continue on Milwaukee Avenue
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Milwaukee Avenue
16
Turn left onto Old Palatine Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Palatine Road
17
Continue on West Palatine Road
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
West Palatine Road
18
Take the ramp slight left toward Palatine Road
358 ft
·
10 sec
·
Palatine Road
19
Merge slight left onto Palatine Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Palatine Road
20
Turn right onto East Rand Road
15 mi
·
20 min
·
East Rand Road
21
Take the exit slight right toward IL 176
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
IL 176
22
Turn left onto West Liberty Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Liberty Street
23
Continue on East State Road
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
East State Road
24
Turn right onto Nish Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Nish Road
25
At the end of the road, turn right onto Barreville Road
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Barreville Road
26
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.9 mi from Chicago, IL · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.9 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Prairie Grove, IL
The final approach into Prairie Grove, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.77 one way
$15.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.53 | $17.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.56 | $19.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.97 | $21.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.39 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Prairie Grove, IL
Morning in Prairie Grove on Saturday
Local time
11:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 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
1h 21m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chicago, IL to Prairie Grove, IL covers 49.7 miles and takes about 1h 21m 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 24.9 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 $7.77 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Chicago, IL to Prairie Grove, IL is easy. At 1h 21m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chicago, IL to Prairie Grove, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chicago, IL to Prairie Grove, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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