Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Makanda, IL to Chicago, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

6h 27m

Distance

339.9 mi

547 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$53

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
6h 16m ★
6 AM
6h 28m
8 AM
6h 53m
10 AM
6h 37m
12 PM
6h 34m
3 PM
6h 38m
5 PM
6h 51m
8 PM
6h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

Makanda, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown chicago-il

Chicago, IL

Otoniel Alvarado

Trip Overview

The drive from Makanda, IL to Chicago, IL covers 339.9 miles and takes about 6h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, East Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 195.2 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.14 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

169.9 miles from Makanda, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 16m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 27m. Total distance: 339.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

This is a 6h 27m highway drive covering 339.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 195.2 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 195.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near US 51.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 339.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.8 miles (US 51): Navigation decision point; at 66.7 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 134.1 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
1.8 mi into trip | ~6m in | US 51

Turn right onto US 51

Navigation decision point

5
66.7 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway toward I 57 North: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 57 North: Chicago
7
134.1 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in | I 57

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 57 North: Chicago
6
332.7 mi into trip | ~6h 15m 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
338.9 mi into trip | ~6h 24m 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 57 195.2 mi 3h 34m
Ken Gray Expressway 108.7 mi 1h 57m
East Main Street 9.7 mi 14m
US 51 8.1 mi 9m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) 6.2 mi 8m
West Deyoung Street 3.3 mi 4m
Dan Ryan Expressway 3.3 mi 4m
Makanda Road 1.8 mi 6m
Longest stretch: I 57 — 195.2 mi, about 3h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Makanda, IL and Chicago, IL.

1

Start on Baptist Hill Road

75 ft · 3 sec · Baptist Hill Road
2

Continue on Makanda Road

1.8 mi · 6 min · Makanda Road
3

Turn right onto US 51

8.1 mi · 9 min · US 51
4

Turn right onto IL 13

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Walnut Street
5

Continue on IL 13

9.7 mi · 14 min · East Main Street
6

Continue on IL 13

3.3 mi · 4 min · West Deyoung Street
7

Take the exit

1.2 mi · 2 min
8

Merge onto I 57

41 mi · 44 min · Ken Gray Expressway
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

67 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57

195 mi · 3 hr 34 min · I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago 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

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 169.9 miles from Makanda, IL, or about 3h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195.2 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 75 miles or 1h 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 169.9 miles or 3h 16m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 17m

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 Makanda, 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 Makanda, IL

This is one driving day of about 339.9 miles and 6h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Makanda, 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 195.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 169.9 mi from Makanda, IL · 3h 16m into the drive

city in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mattoon, IL

170 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.

Popular next leg

Mattoon, IL to Chicago, IL

183 mi · 2h 51m

Pacing Suggestions

Frankfort, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mattoon, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 170.9 miles from Makanda, 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.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 328.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$53.14 one way

$106.28 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 119 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $58.35 $116.69
premium $4.89 $65.41 $130.82
diesel $5.61 $75.05 $150.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$53

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$78–$103

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 118.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 102 1 $35.69 $16.32
Efficient EV 85 0 $29.74 $13.60
EV Truck/SUV 136 1 $47.59 $21.75

Gas CO2

119 kg

EV CO2

40 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Makanda, IL

Afternoon in Makanda on Thursday

Local time

12:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chicago, IL

Afternoon in Chicago on Thursday

Local time

12:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

W 10 to 15 mph 39% 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

16 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

6h 27m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Makanda, IL to Chicago, IL covers 339.9 miles and takes about 6h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, East Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 169.9 miles from Makanda, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.14 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 339.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.8 miles (US 51): Navigation decision point; at 66.7 miles (I 57 / Ken Gray Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 134.1 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Makanda, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Chicago, IL

Houston, TX 1080.8 mi · 19h 31m Bremen, IL 344.9 mi · 6h 40m Anna, IL 344.7 mi · 6h 22m Sparta, IL 337.1 mi · 6h 23m

More from Makanda, IL

Elgin, IL 367.8 mi · 7h 8m Elmhurst, IL 347 mi · 6h 35m Aurora, IL 341.4 mi · 6h 48m Joliet, IL 319.1 mi · 6h 10m Bloomington, IL 231.6 mi · 4h 48m Champaign, IL 209.2 mi · 4h 1m

More trips to Chicago, IL

Rosiclare, IL 360 mi Mount Pleasant, IL 343.6 mi Saline, IL 341.9 mi Campton, IL 339.8 mi Buena Vista, IL 338.2 mi Bremen, IL 337.5 mi
Overnight trips from Makanda, IL Scenic drives in IL

Explore more options from Makanda, IL or browse trips ending in Chicago, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

Explore maps for Makanda, IL or Chicago, IL on MapSof.net.