Origin
Lake Catherine, IL
Morning in Lake Catherine on Wednesday
Local time
7:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Catherine, IL to North Chicago, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
33m
Distance
25 mi
40 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Catherine, IL
Sean Ewing
North Chicago, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Catherine, IL to North Chicago, IL covers 25 miles and takes about 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Skokie Highway, West IL Route 173, Buckley Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.1 miles on North Skokie Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.91 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
12.5 miles from Lake Catherine, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Lake Catherine, IL to North Chicago, IL covers 25 miles and takes about 33m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Skokie Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 173 / West IL Route 173.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 33m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IL 173 / West IL Route 173): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles (US 41 / North Skokie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles (IL 137 / Buckley Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 173 / West IL Route 173
Depart onto IL 173 / West IL Route 173
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
9.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 41 / North Skokie Highway
Turn right onto US 41 / North Skokie Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
21.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
IL 137 / Buckley Road
Turn left onto IL 137 / Buckley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
23.5 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
IL 137 / Bobby E. Thompson Expressway
Turn left onto IL 137 / Bobby E. Thompson Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
25 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
Park Avenue
Turn right onto Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Skokie Highway | 12.1 mi | 13m |
| West IL Route 173 | 9.9 mi | 15m |
| Buckley Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Bobby E. Thompson Expressway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Sheridan Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Broadway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Park Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Fellows Place | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Skokie Highway
— 12.1 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Catherine, IL and North Chicago, IL.
1
Start on IL 173
9.9 mi
·
15 min
·
West IL Route 173
Use the left lane.
2
Turn right onto US 41
12 mi
·
13 min
·
North Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Turn left onto IL 137
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Buckley Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto IL 137
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
Bobby E. Thompson Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on IL 137
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Sheridan Road
6
Turn left onto Broadway
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Broadway
7
Turn right onto Park Avenue
208 ft
·
9 sec
·
Park Avenue
8
Turn right onto Fellows Place
47 ft
·
2 sec
·
Fellows Place
9
Arrive at destination
Fellows Place
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 12.5 miles from Lake Catherine, IL, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.1 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 25 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.5 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Chicago, 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 25 miles and 33m.
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 North Skokie Highway for about 12.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.5 mi from Lake Catherine, IL · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.5 miles from Lake Catherine, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in North Chicago, IL
The final approach into North 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 North 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
$3.91 one way
$7.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.29 | $8.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.81 | $9.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.52 | $11.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.19 | $1.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
North Chicago, IL
Morning in North Chicago on Wednesday
Local time
7:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
20 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
33m 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 Lake Catherine, IL to North Chicago, IL covers 25 miles and takes about 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Skokie Highway, West IL Route 173, Buckley Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.5 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 $3.91 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 straightforward 33m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IL 173 / West IL Route 173): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles (US 41 / North Skokie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles (IL 137 / Buckley Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lake Catherine, IL to North Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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