Origin
Lemont, IL
Morning in Lemont on Saturday
Local time
10:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lemont, IL to Chicago, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
25.2 mi
41 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lemont, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
Lemont, IL to Chicago, IL is 25.2 miles and takes about 38m via Adlai Stevenson Expressway, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip connecting two points within Illinois's Midwest region. You'll be spending most of your time on major expressways, making it an efficient option for getting from point A to point B. Given its short distance and predictable duration, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing ample time for your activities in Chicago.
About the Cities
Arriving in Chicago, IL
Full guide →Chicago is the home of the blues and the truth of jazz, the heart of comedy and the idea of the skyscraper. Here, the age of railroads found its center, and airplanes followed suit. "Stormy, Husky, Brawling / City of Big Shoulders," Chicago is a Heartland boomtown, its ethos defined by urban planner Daniel Burnham's immortal vision: "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." It is one of the world's great cities and the third largest city in the United States, behind only New York City and Los Angeles. As the hub of the Midwest, Chicago is easy to find — its picturesque skyline calls across the waters of Lake Michigan, a first impression that soon reveals world-class museums of art and science, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks and public art, and perhaps the finest downtown collection of modern architecture in the world.
Top landmarks
- • Willis Tower — skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois
- • Art Institute of Chicago — art museum and school in Chicago, United States
- • Wrigley Field — baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, USA; home venue of the Chicago Cubs
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 25.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with about 75% of the route utilizing expressways. You'll experience the efficiency of major roadways, including the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and Stevenson Expressway, for the longest stretch of 15.2 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience characterized by higher speeds and multiple lanes. While the majority of the journey is on these high-speed roads, there are segments on local roads like Lemont Road that provide a brief change of pace before rejoining the expressway system.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 15.2 miles.
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 0.1 miles in near Lockport Street.
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 10 decision points packed into just 25.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lockport Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Lockport Street
Turn left onto Lockport Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.5 mi into trip
|
~6m 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
22.4 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
22.5 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
22.8 mi into trip
|
~32m 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 | 15.2 mi | 20m |
| Stevenson Expressway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Lemont Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Damen Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Blue Island Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Illinois Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 15.2 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lemont, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on West New Avenue
481 ft
·
14 sec
·
West New Avenue
2
Turn left onto Lockport Street
138 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lockport Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn slight left onto East Illinois Street
490 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Illinois Street
4
Turn left onto State Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
State Street
5
Continue on Lemont Road
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Lemont Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
7
Merge onto I 55
15 mi
·
20 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 55
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 290
Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward Damen Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
440 ft
·
12 sec
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn straight onto South Damen Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Damen Avenue
13
Turn right onto South Blue Island Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Blue Island Avenue
14
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cermak Road
15
Turn right
152 ft
·
11 sec
16
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.94 one way
$7.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.33 | $8.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.85 | $9.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.56 | $11.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.8 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 | 7.6 | 0 | $2.65 | $1.21 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.61 |
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
Chicago, IL
Morning in Chicago on Saturday
Local time
10:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 10 to 20 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:47AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:47AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
38m 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 Lemont, IL to Chicago, IL covers 25.2 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Stevenson Expressway, Lemont Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.6 miles from Lemont, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.94 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 10 decision points packed into just 25.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Lockport Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Lemont, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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