Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Clear Lake, IL to Chicago, IL

Drive Time

3h 45m

Distance

197.1 mi

317 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 33m ★
6 AM
3h 46m
8 AM
4h 11m
10 AM
3h 55m
12 PM
3h 52m
3 PM
3h 56m
5 PM
4h 10m
8 PM
3h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Clear Lake, IL, IL

Clear Lake, IL

Tommes Frites

Downtown chicago-il

Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

Trip Overview

The drive from Clear Lake, IL to Chicago, IL covers 197.1 miles and takes about 3h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 55, Stevenson Expressway, West Cermak Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 188.6 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.94 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

98.6 miles from Clear Lake, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 3h 45m highway drive covering 197.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and Stevenson Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 188.6 miles on I 55.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 188.6 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

800 ft 523 ft

Total Climb

482 ft

Total Descent

470 ft

Highest Point

800 ft

~65.7 mi in

Elevation Range

278 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Stevenson Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.9 miles in near I 55.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 197.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 30.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 194.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
30.9 mi into trip | ~35m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
60.3 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | I 55

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
8
194.3 mi into trip | ~3h 38m in

Take the exit toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 290 Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue
8
194.5 mi into trip | ~3h 39m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Damen Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Damen Avenue
9
194.7 mi into trip | ~3h 39m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Clear Lake, IL to Chicago, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.

Peoria

60.3 mi in | ~1h 6m | via I 55

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 188.6 mi 3h 30m
Stevenson Expressway 3.6 mi 4m
West Cermak Road 0.8 mi 1m
South Damen Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
Old Route 36 0.7 mi 1m
South Blue Island Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
I 72 0.3 mi <1m
South Dixon Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 188.6 mi, about 3h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clear Lake, IL and Chicago, IL.

1

Start on West Houston Street

491 ft · 18 sec · West Houston Street
2

Turn right onto South Dixon Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · South Dixon Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto Old Route 36

0.7 mi · 1 min · Old Route 36
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec
5

Merge onto I 72; US 36

0.3 mi · 19 sec · I 72; US 36
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
7

Merge onto I 55

29 mi · 31 min · I 55
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

29 mi · 31 min · I 55
Toward I 55 North: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

130 mi · 2 hr 27 min · I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 55

3.6 mi · 4 min · Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 290 Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward Damen Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork

440 ft · 12 sec
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue Use the left lane.
14

Turn straight onto South Damen Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Damen Avenue
15

Turn right onto South Blue Island Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Blue Island Avenue
16

Turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Cermak Road
17

Turn right

152 ft · 11 sec
18

Turn right

0.2 mi · 58 sec
19

Arrive at 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 98.6 miles from Clear Lake, IL, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.6 miles.

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 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 98.6 miles or 1h 49m 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 1m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chicago, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Clear Lake, 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 Clear Lake, IL

This is one driving day of about 197.1 miles and 3h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clear Lake, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 188.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 98.6 mi from Clear Lake, IL · 1h 49m into the drive

Downtown Normal, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Normal, IL

99 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.

Popular next leg

Normal, IL to Chicago, IL

129.9 mi · 2h 34m

Pacing Suggestions

Normal, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Normal, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 98.6 miles from Clear Lake, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 188.6 miles.

Arriving in Chicago, IL

The final approach into Chicago, 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 Chicago, IL.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

National Monument

In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

11 mi from route ~27 min detour Free near mile 197.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$29.94 one way

$59.87 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $33.00 $66.01
premium $4.80 $37.21 $74.42
diesel $5.64 $43.79 $87.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 69 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 59.1 0 $20.70 $9.46
Efficient EV 49.3 0 $17.25 $7.88
EV Truck/SUV 78.8 0 $27.59 $12.61

Gas CO2

69 kg

EV CO2

23 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Clear Lake, IL

Afternoon in Clear Lake on Sunday

Local time

4:17 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 23 mph 45% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:16PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Chicago, IL

Afternoon in Chicago on Sunday

Local time

4:17 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 25 mph 16% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:16PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

2 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 45m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Clear Lake, IL to Chicago, IL covers 197.1 miles and takes about 3h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Stevenson Expressway, West Cermak Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 98.6 miles from Clear Lake, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.94 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 197.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 30.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 194.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Clear Lake, IL to Chicago, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 523 ft to 800 ft elevation with about 482 ft of total climbing.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Chicago, IL to Clear Lake, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

197.7 mi 3h 47m

Continue From Chicago, IL

Bremen, IL 344.9 mi · 6h 40m Anna, IL 344.7 mi · 6h 22m Sparta, IL 337.1 mi · 6h 23m Saline, IL 335 mi · 6h 32m

More from Clear Lake, IL

Evanston, IL 211.4 mi · 4h 9m Niles, IL 204.2 mi · 3h 55m Des Plaines, IL 202.6 mi · 3h 52m Hoffman Estates, IL 201.5 mi · 3h 49m Berwyn, IL 191.6 mi · 3h 38m Elmhurst, IL 191.3 mi · 3h 38m

More trips to Chicago, IL

Mount Pleasant, IL 343.6 mi Saline, IL 341.9 mi Campton, IL 339.8 mi Buena Vista, IL 338.2 mi Bremen, IL 337.5 mi Carbondale, IL 330.4 mi

Explore more options from Clear Lake, IL or browse trips ending in Chicago, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

Explore maps for Clear Lake, IL or Chicago, IL on MapSof.net.