Trip from Mattoon, IL to Chicago, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 51m

Distance

183 mi

295 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

2h 41m ★

6 AM

2h 52m

8 AM

3h 14m

10 AM

2h 59m

12 PM

2h 57m

3 PM

3h 0m

5 PM

3h 13m

8 PM

2h 45m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

This 183-mile journey from Mattoon, IL to Chicago, IL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just under 3 hours to complete. You'll mainly navigate via North 15th Street and Charleston Avenue before merging onto I-57 North for the bulk of your drive. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, this route is budget-friendly for a drive within the Midwest. The route profile is described as 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting you'll encounter numerous intersections and local road segments rather than continuous highway. This makes it a practical option for a straightforward drive between these two Illinois cities.

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

91.5 miles from Mattoon, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 183 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' experience for much of this 183-mile trip. While I-57 North offers some stretches of highway driving, the route's profile indicates a significant portion involves navigating local roads with frequent turns. There's a 0% highway share in terms of the overall road type, meaning much of your journey won't be on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'turn-heavy' nature implies you'll be making regular adjustments. This drive will likely feel more connected to the local landscape and communities rather than a fast-paced interstate cruise.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

North 15th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Mattoon, IL to Chicago, IL is easy. At 2h 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mattoon, IL to Chicago, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North 15th Street	—	—
Charleston Avenue	—	—
I-57 North	—	—
Dan Ryan Expressway	—	—
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)	—	—
Canalport Avenue	—	—
South Ruble Street	—	—
South Canalport Avenue	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North 15th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on the route

115 ft · 11 sec · the route

2

Turn right onto North 15th Street

0.1 mi · 35 sec · North 15th Street

3

Turn left onto Charleston Avenue

2.8 mi · 5 min · Charleston Avenue

4

Turn right onto I-57 North: Champaign

0.3 mi · 49 sec · I-57 North: Champaign

5

Merge slight left

169 mi · 3 hr 6 min

6

Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

3.3 mi · 4 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

7

Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

6.2 mi · 8 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

8

Take the exit slight right toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road

9

Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street

243 ft · 7 sec · South Ruble Street

10

Turn slight left

75 ft · 5 sec

11

Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue

0.2 mi · 26 sec · South Canalport Avenue

12

Turn left onto South Halsted Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · South Halsted Street

13

Turn right onto West Cermak Road

0.2 mi · 25 sec · West Cermak Road

14

Turn left

151 ft · 11 sec

15

Turn right

0.2 mi · 58 sec

16

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

With a driving time of around 2 hours and 51 minutes, this 183-mile route from Mattoon to Chicago is perfect for a single-day excursion, offering plenty of flexibility. Aim to depart Mattoon in the morning to avoid potential Chicago traffic later in the day. Since the fuel cost is estimated at a reasonable $28, you won't need to worry extensively about refueling stops. Given the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, keep your navigation system readily accessible and be prepared for numerous turns and traffic signals, especially as you approach Chicago. One stop along the way should be sufficient for this relatively short trip.

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 91.5 miles from Mattoon, IL, or about 1h 25m into the drive.

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 40 miles or 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 91.5 miles or 1h 25m 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 20m

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 Mattoon, 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 Mattoon, IL

This is one driving day of about 183 miles and 2h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Mattoon, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 91.5 mi from Mattoon, IL · 1h 25m into the drive

village in Chebanse Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Clifton, IL

92 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

Clifton, IL to Chicago, IL

73.4 mi · 1h 30m

Pacing Suggestions

Rantoul, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Clifton, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 91.5 miles from Mattoon, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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 170.4

Caution: Road Construction Near the Park

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.61 one way

$57.22 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 64 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$31.41	$62.83
premium	$4.89	$35.22	$70.43
diesel	$5.61	$40.40	$80.81

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 64 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	54.9	$19.22	$8.78
Efficient EV	45.8	$16.01	$7.32
EV Truck/SUV	73.2	$25.62	$11.71

Gas CO2

64 kg

EV CO2

21 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Mattoon, IL

Evening in Mattoon on Thursday

Local time

5:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chicago, IL

Evening in Chicago on Thursday

Local time

5:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

W 10 to 15 mph 39% chance Live forecast

69°F

Clifton, IL

92 mi in

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

3 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 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 Mattoon, IL to Chicago, IL covers 183 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North 15th Street, Charleston Avenue, I-57 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 91.5 miles from Mattoon, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.61 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.

The drive from Mattoon, IL to Chicago, IL is easy. At 2h 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mattoon, IL to Chicago, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Mattoon, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

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Return Trip

Chicago, IL to Mattoon, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

182 mi 3h 27m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

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

Trip from Mattoon, IL to Chicago, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Chicago, IL

National Parks Near This Route

Pullman National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Mattoon, IL

Chicago, IL

Same local time

3 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 51m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

Continue From Chicago, IL

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