Origin
Gages Lake, IL
Late night in Gages Lake on Friday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gages Lake, IL to Chicago, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
44.5 mi
72 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gages Lake, IL
PIE
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Gages Lake to Chicago, expect a straightforward 44.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 2 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay or a complex itinerary. With a fuel budget of roughly $7, it is an affordable way to reach the city from the northern suburbs. Because both locations are situated within the Midwest, the transition between them is seamless and familiar. You will find that the lack of required stops makes this a highly efficient route for those looking to reach their destination quickly. It is a practical, no-fuss drive that serves as a reliable connection between the two Illinois communities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 44.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate away from the suburban landscape. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route features no highway driving, meaning you will be dealing with local roads throughout the entire 44.5-mile duration. Expect to be frequently adjusting your speed and steering as the path winds through the region. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, the drive feels active and requires constant engagement from the driver. You will feel the character of the road change as you transition from the quieter streets of Gages Lake into the more dense, urban environment of Chicago.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Edens Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.7 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
771 ft
574 ft
Total Climb
94 ft
Total Descent
277 ft
Highest Point
771 ft
Elevation Range
197 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Mill Road.
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 44.5 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (North Mill Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Hunt Club Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
|
North Mill Road
Turn left onto North Mill Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Hunt Club Road
Turn right onto Hunt Club Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
6.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward IL 137: Buckley Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13
Toward IL 137: Buckley Road
5
6.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
IL 137 / Buckley Road
Turn left onto IL 137 / Buckley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
43.5 mi into trip
|
~58m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Edens Expressway | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| North Skokie Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Skokie Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Skokie Valley Road | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Belvidere Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Buckley Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Edens Expressway
— 13.7 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gages Lake, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on West Kewaunee Drive
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Kewaunee Drive
2
Turn left onto North Mill Road
375 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Mill Road
3
Turn right onto West Gages Lake Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Gages Lake Road
4
Turn right onto Hunt Club Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hunt Club Road
Use the right lane.
5
At end of road, turn left onto IL 120
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Belvidere Road
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 94 Toll East: Chicago
7
Merge onto I 94
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 13
Toward IL 137: Buckley Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto IL 137
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Buckley Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto US 41
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
North Skokie Highway
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
12
Continue on US 41
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 94; US 41
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Continue on I 90; I 94
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
18
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
19
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
20
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
21
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
22
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.3 mi from Gages Lake, IL · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.3 miles from Gages Lake, 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
$6.96 one way
$13.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.56 | $17.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.83 | $19.65 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.11
Tri-state Tollway
(1.8 mi)
$0.11
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Late night in Chicago on Friday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Areas Of Fog
ENE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
64°F
Northfield, IL
22 mi in
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
24 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 2m 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 Gages Lake, IL to Chicago, IL covers 44.5 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Edens Expressway, Kennedy Expressway, North Skokie Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.3 miles from Gages Lake, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.96 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 44.5 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (North Mill Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Hunt Club Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Gages Lake, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 574 ft to 771 ft elevation with about 94 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Elevation is sampled from USGS 3DEP. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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