Trip from Guilford, IL to Chicago, IL

Drive Time

3h 32m

Distance

162.1 mi

261 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

3h 20m ★

6 AM

3h 32m

8 AM

3h 57m

10 AM

3h 41m

12 PM

3h 38m

3 PM

3h 42m

5 PM

3h 56m

8 PM

3h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

Trip Overview

If you are planning to head from Guilford to Chicago, expect a 162.1-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 32 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can anticipate spending roughly $25 on fuel for the trek, which stays entirely within the Midwest region of Illinois. Since the route involves a mix of local roads and major thoroughfares, it offers a practical way to reach the city without an overly taxing schedule. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage the transition from the quieter Guilford area into the heart of Chicago.

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

81.1 miles from Guilford, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While you will spend some time on major arteries like the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, only 6% of the journey is classified as highway travel. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 60.9 miles on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, which provides a brief respite from the more technical local sections. Transitions between West State Road and other connectors mean the character of the road changes frequently as you progress toward your destination. It is a drive that balances faster, flowing segments with the more nuanced navigation required on local infrastructure.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 60.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 103.7 miles in near I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 162.1 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: at 103.7 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.3 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.8 miles (Cumberland flyover): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 27 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

103.7 mi into trip | ~2h 15m in | I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

144.3 mi into trip | ~2h 59m in | I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway toward Cumberland Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Cumberland Avenue

144.8 mi into trip | ~3h in | Cumberland flyover

Take the exit onto Cumberland flyover toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 79A Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue South

145.8 mi into trip | ~3h 2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue

161.1 mi into trip | ~3h 28m 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
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway	60.9 mi	1h 5m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway	58.7 mi	1h 13m
West State Road	9.8 mi	11m
North Elizabeth Scales Mound Road	8.1 mi	14m
Kennedy Expressway	7.9 mi	11m
West Higgins Avenue	2.7 mi	6m
West North Avenue	2.1 mi	3m
West Rawlins Road	1.9 mi	4m

Longest stretch: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — 60.9 mi, about 1h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Guilford, IL and Chicago, IL.

Start on West Guilford Road

0.4 mi · 56 sec · West Guilford Road

Continue on West Rawlins Road

1.9 mi · 4 min · West Rawlins Road

At end of road, turn right onto CR 4

8.1 mi · 14 min · North Elizabeth Scales Mound Road

At end of road, turn left onto US 20

0.7 mi · 1 min · Madison Street

Continue on US 20

0.1 mi · 20 sec · West Diagonal Street

Continue on US 20

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

Continue on US 20

4.6 mi · 6 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 20

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Woodbine Street

Continue on US 20

6.4 mi · 8 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Continue on US 20

2.1 mi · 3 min · West North Avenue

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 20

33 mi · 41 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 20

9.8 mi · 11 min · West State Road

Continue on US 20

14 mi · 16 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Toward US 20 East: Chicago

Continue on I 39; US 51

0.6 mi · 41 sec · I 39; US 51

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 East: Chicago

Merge onto I 90

20 mi · 21 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

41 mi · 43 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 90

0.3 mi · 21 sec · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Toward Cumberland Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

526 ft · 29 sec · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge onto I 90

402 ft · 4 sec · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Take the exit onto Cumberland flyover

1.0 mi · 1 min · Cumberland flyover

Exit 79A Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

245 ft · 8 sec

Toward IL 171 South: Cumberland Avenue Use the none lane.

Turn right onto IL 171

0.2 mi · 28 sec · North Cumberland Avenue

Use the right lane.

Continue on IL 171

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Cumberland Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto IL 72

1.1 mi · 1 min · West Higgins Road

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto IL 72

326 ft · 13 sec · North Oriole Avenue

Use the left / right lanes.

Turn left onto IL 72

2.7 mi · 6 min · West Higgins Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto North Central Avenue

0.2 mi · 25 sec · North Central Avenue

Turn left onto West Lawrence Avenue

0.4 mi · 42 sec · West Lawrence Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Milwaukee Avenue

Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Montrose Avenue

Use the none lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Toward I 90 East, I 94 East

Merge onto I 90; I 94

7.9 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 90; I 94

0.9 mi · 1 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Exit 52C Toward 18th Street Use the slight right lane.

Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · South Union Avenue

Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

505 ft · 12 sec · South Canalport Avenue

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · South Halsted Street

Turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.2 mi · 24 sec · West Cermak Road

Use the none lane.

Turn left

152 ft · 11 sec

Turn right

0.2 mi · 58 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 3-hour and 32-minute trip, aim to depart early to avoid potential congestion as you approach the city. Since you only have one planned stop, use that time strategically to refuel and stretch your legs before hitting the final leg of your journey. Keep in mind that the majority of this route is not on a highway, so stay alert for changing speed limits and local traffic patterns. Given the distance, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your pace if you hit unexpected delays. A helpful tip for this specific route is to keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the Guilford area, as the $25 estimate is a good baseline but local driving conditions can influence your actual consumption.

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 81.1 miles from Guilford, IL, or about 1h 50m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.9 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 80 miles or 1h 49m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 81.1 miles or 1h 50m 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 47m

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 Guilford, 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 Guilford, IL

This is one driving day of about 162.1 miles and 3h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Guilford, 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 Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 60.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 81.1 mi from Guilford, IL · 1h 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

81 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 81.1 miles from Guilford, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Jane Addams Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.9 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

$24.62 one way

$49.24 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 57 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$27.14	$54.28
premium	$4.80	$30.60	$61.20
diesel	$5.64	$36.01	$72.03

Estimated Tolls: $4.22

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (60.4 mi) $4.22

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

$25

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	48.6	$17.02	$7.78
Efficient EV	40.5	$14.18	$6.48
EV Truck/SUV	64.8	$22.69	$10.37

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Guilford, IL

Evening in Guilford on Sunday

Local time

6:40 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chicago, IL

Evening in Chicago on Sunday

Local time

6:40 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

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

27 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 32m 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 Guilford, IL to Chicago, IL covers 162.1 miles and takes about 3h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, West State Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 81.1 miles from Guilford, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.62 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.

The route from Guilford, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Chicago, IL to Guilford, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

161 mi 3h 37m

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Trip from Guilford, IL to Chicago, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Chicago, IL

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Guilford, IL

Chicago, IL

Same local time

27 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 32m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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