Origin
Fox, IL
Night in Fox on Thursday
Local time
9:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fox, IL to Chicago, IL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
52 mi
84 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fox, IL
Steffi Wacker
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
The drive from Fox, IL to Chicago, IL covers 52 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, East Schoolhouse Road, West Lockport Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.9 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.13 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 52 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 18m highway drive covering 52 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and East Schoolhouse Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.9 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 24.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and East Schoolhouse Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in near East Schoolhouse Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 5.5 miles (East Schoolhouse Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.1 miles (West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
5.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
East Schoolhouse Road
Turn right onto East Schoolhouse Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
17.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
West Main Street
Turn left onto West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
49.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
49.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
49.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 24.9 mi | 33m |
| East Schoolhouse Road | 6 mi | 9m |
| West Lockport Road | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| IL 71 | 4 mi | 5m |
| Stevenson Expressway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Eldamain Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 24.9 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fox, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on West Fox Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Fox Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Eldamain Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Eldamain Road
3
Turn left onto IL 71
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
IL 71
4
Turn right onto East Schoolhouse Road
6.0 mi
·
9 min
·
East Schoolhouse Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on West Lockport Road
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
West Lockport Road
6
Continue on West Lockport Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Lockport Street
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto West Main Street
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West Main Street
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 55 North
9
Merge onto I 55
25 mi
·
33 min
·
I 55
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26 mi from Fox, IL · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 26 miles from Fox, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.13 one way
$16.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.93 | $17.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.01 | $20.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.48 | $22.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.46 | $2.50 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.55 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.28 | $3.33 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Chicago, IL
Night in Chicago on Thursday
Local time
9:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
21 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
1h 18m 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 Fox, IL to Chicago, IL covers 52 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, East Schoolhouse Road, West Lockport 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 26 miles from Fox, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.13 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 52 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 5.5 miles (East Schoolhouse Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.1 miles (West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Fox, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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