This 292.7-mile drive from Newport, IL to Chicago, IL is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes. The majority of your travel, 96%, will be on major interstates, primarily I-55 and I-270, with Lewis and Clark Boulevard also part of the route. With a projected fuel cost of around $46, this trip is budget-friendly for a single day. The Midwest scenery provides a consistent backdrop for this efficient drive, making it a practical option for those looking to reach Chicago from Newport without extensive planning.
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
146.3 miles from Newport, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 292.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this 292.7-mile trip, with 96% of the drive utilizing interstates. The bulk of your time will be spent on I-55, including an impressive uninterrupted stretch of 267 miles. While the profile is predominantly highway, you will transition onto I-270 and Lewis and Clark Boulevard, offering slight variations in the road's personality before rejoining the interstate flow towards Chicago. This route prioritizes efficient travel over winding scenic byways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 267 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 270. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 126.5 miles in near I 55.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 292.7 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 126.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 289.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
126.5 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
155.8 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
8
289.8 mi into trip|~5h 23m 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
290 mi into trip|~5h 23m 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
290.2 mi into trip|~5h 24m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Newport, IL and Chicago, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Peoria.
Springfield
18.9 mi in|~22m
Peoria
155.8 mi in|~2h 51m|via I 55
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
267 mi
4h 54m
I 270
11.6 mi
13m
Lewis and Clark Boulevard
5.3 mi
6m
Stevenson Expressway
3.6 mi
4m
Cedar Street
1.5 mi
1m
West Cermak Road
0.8 mi
1m
South Damen Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
South Blue Island Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 267 mi, about 4h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newport, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on Bissell Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·Bissell Street
2
Turn left onto IL 3
1.5 mi·1 min·Cedar Street
3
Continue on IL 3
5.3 mi·6 min·Lewis and Clark Boulevard
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 270 East: Effingham
5
Merge onto I 270
12 mi·13 min·I 270
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 15BToward I 55 North: Chicago, Springfield
7
Merge onto I 55
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 55
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi·31 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
130 mi·2 hr 27 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, PeoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 55
3.6 mi·4 min·Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 290Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward Damen AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
440 ft·12 sec
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen AvenueUse the left lane.
14
Turn straight onto South Damen Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·South Damen Avenue
15
Turn right onto South Blue Island Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Blue Island Avenue
16
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.8 mi·1 min·West Cermak Road
17
Turn right
152 ft·11 sec
18
Turn right
0.2 mi·58 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 30-minute duration, departing from Newport in the morning will allow you ample time to reach Chicago without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your breaks, but consider a stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The longest stretch is a significant 267 miles on I-55, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on this segment. Watching for traffic conditions as you approach the Chicago metropolitan area is crucial, especially during peak hours.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 146.3 miles from Newport, IL, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 267 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 64 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.3 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 26m
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 Newport, 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 Newport, IL
This is one driving day of about 292.7 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Newport, 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 55 for about 267 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 146.3 mi from Newport, IL
· 2h 40m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 100.9
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 292.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.76 one way
$91.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$50.24
$100.49
premium
$4.89
$56.33
$112.65
diesel
$5.61
$64.62
$129.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.8
1
$30.73
$14.05
Efficient EV
73.2
0
$25.61
$11.71
EV Truck/SUV
117.1
1
$40.98
$18.73
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Newport, IL
Afternoon
in Newport on Friday
Local time
2:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chicago, IL
Afternoon
in Chicago on Friday
Local time
2:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Bloomington, IL
146 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
29 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
5h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Newport, IL to Chicago, IL covers 292.7 miles and takes about 5h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, I 270, Lewis and Clark Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 146.3 miles from Newport, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.76 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 292.7 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 126.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 289.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Newport, IL and Chicago, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Peoria.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and 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.
