Origin
Elmhurst, IL
Night in Elmhurst on Tuesday
Local time
10:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, IL to Chatham, IL
Data updated 3 hours ago
Drive Time
41m
Distance
27.4 mi
44 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Chatham, IL
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
The drive from Elmhurst, IL to Chatham, IL covers 27.4 miles and takes about 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 290, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express), Dan Ryan Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.8 miles on I 290. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.28 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
13.7 miles from Elmhurst, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 41m highway drive covering 27.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 290 and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). The longest continuous stretch is about 14.8 miles on I 290.
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 290 is the longest continuous segment at about 14.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 290 and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 27.4 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 16.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.2 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
7
16.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
8
19.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
7
26 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward 83rd Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 61A
Toward 83rd Street
9
26.2 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 83rd Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 61A
Toward 83rd Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 14.8 mi | 20m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| East Saint Charles Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West 83rd Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| South York Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Rhodes Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Lafayette Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 14.8 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, IL and Chatham, IL.
1
Start on this road
267 ft
·
25 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
51 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
362 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Park Avenue
4
Turn right onto South York Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South York Street
5
Turn left onto East Saint Charles Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Saint Charles Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 290 East
7
Merge onto I 290
15 mi
·
20 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
10
Merge onto I 90; I 94
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 61A
Toward 83rd Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 61A
Toward 83rd Street
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto South Lafayette Avenue
384 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Lafayette Avenue
15
Turn left onto West 83rd Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West 83rd Street
16
Turn right onto South Rhodes Avenue
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Rhodes Avenue
17
Turn right onto East 84th Street
218 ft
·
14 sec
·
East 84th Street
18
Turn left
315 ft
·
23 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 13.7 miles from Elmhurst, IL, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.8 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 27.4 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.7 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chatham, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elmhurst, 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 Elmhurst, IL
This is one driving day of about 27.4 miles and 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elmhurst, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 290 for about 14.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.7 mi from Elmhurst, IL · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 27.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.7 miles from Elmhurst, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chatham, IL
The final approach into Chatham, 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 Chatham, 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
$4.28 one way
$8.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.70 | $9.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.27 | $10.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.05 | $12.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
| Efficient EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.40 | $1.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.75 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Chatham, IL
Night in Chatham on Tuesday
Local time
10:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
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
41m 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 Elmhurst, IL to Chatham, IL covers 27.4 miles and takes about 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 290, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express), Dan Ryan Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.7 miles from Elmhurst, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.28 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 27.4 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 16.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.2 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Elmhurst, IL to Chatham, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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