Origin
Elmwood Park, IL
Morning in Elmwood Park on Saturday
Local time
7:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmwood Park, IL to Chicago, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
12.7 mi
20 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmwood Park, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
Traveling the 12.7 miles from Elmwood Park to Chicago is a quick, straightforward journey that typically takes about 24 minutes. Because the distance is so short, you certainly don't need an overnight stay, making this an ideal one-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of just $2, it is an incredibly budget-friendly trip to navigate within the Midwest. Your route will primarily utilize West Grand Avenue, West North Avenue, and the Kennedy Expressway to reach your destination. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this trip serves as a practical connection between suburban life and the urban core.
About the Cities
Starting in Elmwood Park, IL
Full guide →The Northwest Suburbs are in Chicagoland, primarily in northwestern Cook, southern Lake and northern DuPage County, centered along Metra’s North Central Service, though encompassing areas well beyond the rail line. The Northwestern Suburbs constitute the largest portion of Chicagoland outside of the city. For further-out suburbs, see Fox River Valley.
Arriving 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 24m. Total distance: 12.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Only 28% of this 12.7-mile trek takes place on highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating surface streets. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 4 miles you spend on West Grand Avenue. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, the drive feels less like a monotonous interstate grind and more like a transition through the changing density of the Chicago area. Be prepared for frequent turns as you weave through the local infrastructure.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Grand Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 4 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
647 ft
575 ft
Total Climb
21 ft
Total Descent
75 ft
Highest Point
647 ft
~0.9 mi in
Elevation Range
72 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Belden Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.7 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Belden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 73rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West Fullerton Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Belden Avenue
Turn right onto West Belden Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 73rd Avenue
Turn left onto North 73rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Fullerton Avenue
Turn left onto West Fullerton Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
West Grand Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto West Grand Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
11.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward 18th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Grand Avenue | 4 mi | 7m |
| West North Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Union Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Halsted Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 73rd Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Grand Avenue
— 4 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmwood Park, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on this road
186 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West Belden Avenue
175 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Belden Avenue
3
Turn left onto North 73rd Avenue
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
North 73rd Avenue
4
Turn left onto West Fullerton Avenue
143 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Fullerton Avenue
5
Turn right onto 73rd Avenue
361 ft
·
14 sec
·
73rd Avenue
6
Turn right onto West Grand Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Grand Avenue
7
Keep slight right at fork onto West Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Grand Avenue
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on West Grand Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Grand Avenue
9
Turn slight left onto IL 64
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
West North Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto North Greenview Avenue
186 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Greenview Avenue
11
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
12
Merge onto I 90; I 94
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 90; I 94
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
16
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
17
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
18
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
19
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
20
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.99 one way
$3.97 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.18 | $4.36 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.44 | $4.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.80 | $5.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.33 | $0.61 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.11 | $0.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.81 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Chicago, IL
Morning in Chicago on Saturday
Local time
7:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 15 mph
98% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:33AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
25 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
24m 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 Elmwood Park, IL to Chicago, IL covers 12.7 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Grand Avenue, West North Avenue, Kennedy Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.3 miles from Elmwood Park, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.99 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.7 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Belden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 73rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West Fullerton Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Elmwood Park, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 575 ft to 647 ft elevation with about 21 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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