Origin
Fox Lake, IL
Evening in Fox Lake on Sunday
Local time
5:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
1h 46m
Distance
75.7 mi
122 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fox Lake, IL
John Baker
Calumet City, IL
Lorenc Memaga
Connecting Fox Lake to Calumet City, this 75.7-mile journey is a straightforward trek across the Illinois landscape. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 46 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $12, the drive is quite economical for a solo traveler or a small group. You will navigate a mix of local roads and major arteries like the Edens and Dan Ryan Expressways. Because the entire route remains within the Midwest, you won't experience major environmental shifts, though you will transition from the northern outskirts toward the southern metropolitan area. It is an efficient path that prioritizes speed and directness over leisure.
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
37.8 miles from Fox Lake, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 81% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself settling into a rhythm on the Edens Expressway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 13.7 miles. As you transition from IL 60 onto the Dan Ryan Expressway, the character of the drive shifts from suburban flow to a more intense urban pace. Expect a consistent, highway-focused experience that minimizes stop-and-go local traffic where possible. The road demands your full attention as you move through these major corridors, so prepare for a drive that prioritizes progress over scenery.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Edens Expressway and IL 60. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 12.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 75.7 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: near the start (US 12): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.2 miles (I 94 / Edens Spur): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.2 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 12
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Edens Spur toward I 94 East Toll: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Bishop Ford Freeway toward I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward IL 83 South: East Sibley Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Edens Expressway | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| IL 60 | 10.6 mi | 17m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| Bishop Ford Freeway | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| US 12 | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| Edens Spur | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| US 45 | 3.9 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fox Lake, IL and Calumet City, IL.
Start on this road
Turn right
Turn left onto US 12
Continue on US 12; IL 59
Continue on US 12; IL 59
Turn left onto IL 120
Turn right onto IL 60
Continue on US 45
Continue on Olde Half Day Road
At end of road, turn left onto IL 22
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
Continue on I 94; US 41
Continue on I 90; I 94
Continue on I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Sibley Boulevard
Turn right onto Wentworth Avenue
Turn left onto Pulaski Road
Arrive at destination
Since this is a relatively short 1 hour and 46-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Aim to depart outside of peak rush hours, as the reliance on the Dan Ryan Expressway means traffic density can fluctuate significantly throughout the day. Because there are no designated stops required for a trip of this length, you can easily complete the 75.7-mile distance without needing a formal break. Keep your $12 fuel budget in mind when planning your departure, and fill up before leaving Fox Lake to avoid higher urban pricing near your destination. A helpful tip for this route is to monitor real-time traffic reports specifically for the Dan Ryan Expressway, as even small delays there can quickly impact your total travel time.
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.
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 75.7 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.8 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Calumet City, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Fox 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 Fox Lake, IL
This is one driving day of about 75.7 miles and 1h 46m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.8 mi from Fox Lake, IL · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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.
A short stop after about 75.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 37.8 miles from Fox Lake, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Calumet City, 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 Calumet City, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$11.50 one way
$23.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $12.68 | $25.35 |
| premium | $4.80 | $14.29 | $28.58 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $16.82 | $33.64 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.18
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.95 | $3.63 |
| Efficient EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.62 | $3.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.60 | $4.84 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Fox Lake on Sunday
Local time
5:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Calumet City on Sunday
Local time
5:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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