Origin
Justice, IL
Morning in Justice on Friday
Local time
6:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Justice, 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
27m
Distance
17.6 mi
28 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Justice, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Justice to Chicago, you are looking at a quick 17.6-mile journey that typically takes about 27 minutes. You will primarily utilize I-55 North, also known as the Adlai Stevenson Expressway, to bridge the gap between these two Illinois locations. Given the short distance, this trip is easily completed in a single day and does not require an overnight stay. Budgeting about $3 for fuel should be sufficient to cover your needs for this stretch. Since both cities are located within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the entire drive. It is a straightforward, practical commute that gets you from the suburban outskirts into the heart of the city efficiently.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 17.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a long, monotonous interstate haul. The route is defined by the Stevenson Expressway, which serves as the primary artery for your transit. Because this is a short trip of under 20 miles, you will find it lacks the long, uninterrupted stretches found on rural highways. You will need to stay alert for frequent transitions and local traffic patterns as you move toward the city. The road’s personality is functional and busy, demanding your attention as you navigate the transition from Justice into the dense metropolitan environment of Chicago.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 8.1 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
651 ft
588 ft
Total Climb
100 ft
Total Descent
126 ft
Highest Point
651 ft
~2.5 mi in
Elevation Range
63 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Stevenson Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 17.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23A
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
5
3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
14.7 mi into trip
|
~20m 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
14.9 mi into trip
|
~20m 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
15.2 mi into trip
|
~21m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| Stevenson Expressway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Damen Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Blue Island Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 8.1 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Justice, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on I 294
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
2
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 23A
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Merge onto I 55
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 55
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 290
Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward Damen Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
440 ft
·
12 sec
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Turn straight onto South Damen Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Damen Avenue
9
Turn right onto South Blue Island Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Blue Island Avenue
10
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cermak Road
11
Turn right
152 ft
·
11 sec
12
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.75 one way
$5.50 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.02 | $6.04 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.39 | $6.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.89 | $7.77 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.15
Tri-state Tollway
(2.5 mi)
$0.15
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.54 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.13 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Morning in Chicago on Friday
Local time
6:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Areas Of Fog
ENE 5 mph
0% chance
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
28 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
27m 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 Justice, IL to Chicago, IL covers 17.6 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Stevenson Expressway, Tri-State Tollway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.8 miles from Justice, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.75 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 is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 17.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Justice, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 588 ft to 651 ft elevation with about 100 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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