Origin
Lake of the Woods, IL
Morning in Lake of the Woods on Monday
Local time
9:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake of the Woods, IL to Chicago, IL
Drive Time
2h 42m
Distance
139 mi
224 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 32m
★
6 AM
2h 43m
8 AM
3h 4m
10 AM
2h 50m
12 PM
2h 48m
3 PM
2h 51m
5 PM
3h 3m
8 PM
2h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake of the Woods, IL
Gatsby Yang
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake of the Woods, IL to Chicago, IL covers 139 miles and takes about 2h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express), I 74 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 120.8 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.11 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.5 miles from Lake of the Woods, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 42m highway drive covering 139 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). The longest continuous stretch is about 120.8 miles on I 57.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 120.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Dan Ryan Expressway (Express). This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near County Road 50.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 139 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 0.2 miles (County Road 50): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
County Road 50
Turn right onto County Road 50
Navigation decision point
6
6.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 57: Chicago, Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 179
Toward I 57: Chicago, Memphis
6
6.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 179
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
6
131.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
|
I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Roa...
8
138 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
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 53A
Toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 120.8 mi | 2h 14m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| I 74 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| North Prairieview Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| County Road 50 | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Canalport Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 120.8 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake of the Woods, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on this road
138 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
301 ft
·
23 sec
3
Turn right onto North Lake of the Woods Road
453 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Lake of the Woods Road
4
Turn right onto County Road 50
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 50
5
At end of road, turn right onto North Prairieview Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Prairieview Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 74 East: Champaign
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 74
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 74
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 179
Toward I 57: Chicago, Memphis
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 179
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
10
Merge onto I 57
121 mi
·
2 hr 14 min
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 94
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express: Pershing Road
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 53A
Toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street
243 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Ruble Street
15
Turn slight left
75 ft
·
4 sec
16
Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
17
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
18
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
19
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
20
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
21
Arrive at destination
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.5 miles from Lake of the Woods, IL, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.8 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.5 miles or 1h 20m 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 10m
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 Lake of the Woods, 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 of the Woods, IL
This is one driving day of about 139 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lake of the Woods, 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 57 for about 120.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.5 mi from Lake of the Woods, IL · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.5 miles from Lake of the Woods, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.8 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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.11 one way
$42.23 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $23.27 | $46.55 |
| premium | $4.80 | $26.24 | $52.48 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $30.88 | $61.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.7 | 0 | $14.59 | $6.67 |
| Efficient EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.16 | $5.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.46 | $8.90 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Monday
Local time
9:28 AM
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
8 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
2h 42m 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 of the Woods, IL to Chicago, IL covers 139 miles and takes about 2h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Dan Ryan Expressway (Express), I 74. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.5 miles from Lake of the Woods, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.11 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 139 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (County Road 50): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Lake of the Woods, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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