Origin
Lake Catherine, IL
Late night in Lake Catherine on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Catherine, IL to Niles, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
57m
Distance
44.1 mi
71 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Catherine, IL
Sean Ewing
Niles, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Catherine, IL to Niles, IL covers 44.1 miles and takes about 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tri-State Tollway, West IL Route 173, North Milwaukee Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.5 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.89 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
22.1 miles from Lake Catherine, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 57m drive with frequent turns across 44.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 29.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.9 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 8.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 31.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
8.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the ramp toward I 94 Toll East: Chicago
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 94 Toll East: Chicago
8
31.6 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
7
38.8 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward IL 58: Golf Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45
Toward IL 58: Golf Road
6
39.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
IL 58 / Golf Road
Turn left onto IL 58 / Golf Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
44.1 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
North Waukegan Road
Turn right onto North Waukegan Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lake Catherine, IL to Niles, IL, road signs begin pointing toward O'hare along the way.
O'hare
31.6 mi in
|
~39m
|
via I 294
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 29.5 mi | 34m |
| West IL Route 173 | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| North Milwaukee Avenue | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Golf Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| West Howard Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North East River Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Waukegan Road | <0.1 mi | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 29.5 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Catherine, IL and Niles, IL.
1
Start on IL 173
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
West IL Route 173
Use the left lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 94 Toll East: Chicago
Use the right lane.
3
Merge onto I 94
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Use the slight right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 45
Toward IL 58: Golf Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto North East River Road
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North East River Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto IL 58
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Golf Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto IL 21
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
9
Turn left onto West Howard Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Howard Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto North Waukegan Road
14 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Waukegan Road
Use the right lane.
11
Arrive at destination
North Waukegan Road
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 22.1 miles from Lake Catherine, IL, or about 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.5 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 44.1 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.1 miles or 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Niles, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Catherine, 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 Lake Catherine, IL
This is one driving day of about 44.1 miles and 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lake Catherine, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 29.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.1 mi from Lake Catherine, IL · 28m 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 44.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from Lake Catherine, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Niles, IL
The final approach into Niles, 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 Niles, 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
$6.89 one way
$13.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.57 | $15.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.49 | $16.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.74 | $19.47 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.77
Tri-state Tollway
(29.5 mi)
$1.77
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
$7
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.17 | $2.82 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Niles, IL
Late night in Niles on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 15 mph
8% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
7 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
57m 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 Lake Catherine, IL to Niles, IL covers 44.1 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, West IL Route 173, North Milwaukee Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.1 miles from Lake Catherine, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.89 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 44.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 8.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 31.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Lake Catherine, IL to Niles, IL, road signs begin pointing toward O'hare along the way.
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