Origin
Long Grove, IL
Evening in Long Grove on Tuesday
Local time
6:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Long Grove, IL to Chicago, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
51m
Distance
32 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Grove, IL
Ali Soheil
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
Traveling from Long Grove to Chicago is a quick, 38.1-mile journey that typically takes about 50 minutes. Because of the short distance, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You can expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel, making this an incredibly budget-friendly commute or day trip. Both locations reside within the Midwest, keeping the regional landscape consistent throughout your travel. Since there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination or weave in extra time for errands along the way.
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
16 miles from Long Grove, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since this route maintains a zero-percent highway share, you will be navigating surface streets for the entire 38.1-mile duration. This lack of highway time means you should be prepared for frequent stops, traffic signals, and changing speed limits as you transition from the suburban setting of Long Grove into the urban core of Chicago. Behind the wheel, you will experience a consistently engaging drive that demands your full attention compared to the mindless drone of a freeway.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kennedy Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 8.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near IL 83 / McHenry Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 32 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.5 miles (IL 83 / McHenry Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles (West Touhy Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IL 83 / McHenry Road
Turn right onto IL 83 / McHenry Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
16.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
West Touhy Avenue
Turn left onto West Touhy Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
19.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the ramp toward I 94 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 94 East
5
19.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 94 / Edens Expressway
Merge onto I 94 / Edens Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
30.9 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward 18th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| South Milwaukee Avenue | 6.8 mi | 10m |
| North Milwaukee Avenue | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| North Caldwell Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| McHenry Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Edens Expressway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| East Lake Cook Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Kennedy Expressway
— 8.1 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Grove, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on V77
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
North Old McHenry Road
2
Turn left onto North State Route 53
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
North State Route 53
3
Turn right onto IL 83
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
McHenry Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto East Lake Cook Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Lake Cook Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
this road
7
Turn right onto US 45; IL 21
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
8
Continue on US 45; IL 21
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
South Milwaukee Avenue
9
Continue on IL 21
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
10
Turn left onto West Touhy Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Touhy Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto US 14
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Caldwell Avenue
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 94 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 94
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Continue on I 90; I 94
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
18
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
19
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
20
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
21
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
22
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To ensure the smoothest 50-minute transit, try to avoid peak rush hours, as local road congestion can significantly impact your travel time. Since the entire trip is quite short, you have the advantage of total flexibility regarding your departure time and pace. Keep in mind that with zero designated stops and no long uninterrupted stretches, you should handle any refueling or personal breaks before you leave Long Grove. A concrete tip for this specific route is to keep a navigation app running, as the turn-heavy nature of the local roads can lead to missed exits if you aren't watching your GPS closely.
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 16 miles from Long Grove, IL, or about 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.1 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 32 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 43m
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 Long Grove, 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 Long Grove, IL
This is one driving day of about 32 miles and 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Long Grove, 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 Kennedy Expressway for about 8.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16 mi from Long Grove, IL · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16 miles from Long Grove, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.00 one way
$10.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.49 | $10.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.16 | $12.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.07 | $14.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.36 | $1.54 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Evening in Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
6:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph
75% chance
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
7 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
51m 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 Long Grove, IL to Chicago, IL covers 32 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kennedy Expressway, South Milwaukee Avenue, North Milwaukee Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16 miles from Long Grove, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.00 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 32 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.5 miles (IL 83 / McHenry Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles (West Touhy Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Long Grove, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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