Origin
Germantown Hills, IL
Night in Germantown Hills on Wednesday
Local time
9:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Germantown Hills, IL to Chicago, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 13m
Distance
149.8 mi
241 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 2m
★
6 AM
3h 14m
8 AM
3h 37m
10 AM
3h 22m
12 PM
3h 19m
3 PM
3h 23m
5 PM
3h 36m
8 PM
3h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Germantown Hills, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
Traveling from Germantown Hills to Chicago covers 142.6 miles, a journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 34 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip within the Midwest, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion rather than an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $21 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Since the route involves no major highway stretches, it functions as a local commute across the Illinois landscape. You will find that the lack of required stops gives you total control over your schedule, making it easy to plan your arrival in the city. Overall, this drive is a straightforward transit between two familiar Illinois locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.9 miles from Germantown Hills, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way toward Chicago. This route bypasses traditional high-speed interstates entirely, meaning you will be dealing with local roads for the full duration of the 142.6-mile trip. With a highway share of 0%, your focus will be on navigating turns and local traffic flow rather than maintaining steady cruise control. There is no single longest stretch of road to prepare for, as the path requires consistent attention to changing directions. This is not a monotonous highway grind; instead, it is an active, hands-on driving experience that demands your engagement throughout the entire 2 hour and 34 minute transit.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 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 99.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and East State Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in near Tazewood Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 149.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.4 miles (Tazewood Road): Navigation decision point; at 43.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 147 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Tazewood Road
At end of road, turn left onto Tazewood Road
Navigation decision point
5
43.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 North: Joliet
Navigation decision point
Toward I 55 North: Joliet
8
147 mi into trip
|
~3h 6m 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
147.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 6m 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
147.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 7m 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 | 99.8 mi | 1h 54m |
| East State Street | 11.8 mi | 17m |
| West Main Street | 9.2 mi | 14m |
| East 3100 North Road | 7 mi | 9m |
| Boyd Parkway | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| Nofsinger Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Stevenson Expressway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| State Route 116 | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 99.8 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Germantown Hills, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on IL 116
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
State Route 116
2
Continue on IL 116
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
State Route 116
3
Turn right onto Nofsinger Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Nofsinger Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto Tazewood Road
73 ft
·
4 sec
·
Tazewood Road
5
Turn right onto Nofsinger Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Nofsinger Road
6
Turn left onto US 24
6.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Boyd Parkway
7
Continue on US 24
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West Center Street
8
Continue on US 24
12 mi
·
17 min
·
East State Street
9
Continue on US 24
9.2 mi
·
14 min
·
West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 24
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
East 3100 North Road
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 55 North: Joliet
12
Merge onto I 55
100 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 55
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 290
Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward Damen Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
440 ft
·
12 sec
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn straight onto South Damen Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Damen Avenue
18
Turn right onto South Blue Island Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Blue Island Avenue
19
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cermak Road
20
Turn right
152 ft
·
11 sec
21
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the local nature of this route, your biggest advantage is flexibility in your departure time. Since there are no mandatory stops required to reach your destination, you can easily tailor the journey to fit your personal agenda. Keep in mind that as you move from Germantown Hills toward Chicago, local traffic patterns may fluctuate, so checking your GPS for real-time turn updates is a smart move. Budget your $21 fuel cost ahead of time so you aren't searching for stations in unfamiliar areas. A practical tip: because this is a turn-heavy route without long highway stretches, try to break up the drive by planning a quick rest just past the halfway point to stay refreshed behind the wheel.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.9 miles from Germantown Hills, IL, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.8 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 33 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.9 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chicago, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Germantown Hills, 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 Germantown Hills, IL
This is one driving day of about 149.8 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Germantown Hills, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 99.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.9 mi from Germantown Hills, IL · 1h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.9 miles from Germantown Hills, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.8 miles.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Chicago, 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
$23.42 one way
$46.84 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.71 | $51.43 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.83 | $57.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.07 | $66.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.73 | $7.19 |
| Efficient EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.11 | $5.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.9 | 0 | $20.97 | $9.59 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Chicago, IL
Night in Chicago on Wednesday
Local time
9:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph
75% chance
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
11 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
3h 13m 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 Germantown Hills, IL to Chicago, IL covers 149.8 miles and takes about 3h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, East State Street, West Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.9 miles from Germantown Hills, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 149.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.4 miles (Tazewood Road): Navigation decision point; at 43.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 147 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Germantown Hills, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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