Origin
Oak Brook, IL
Late night in Oak Brook on Friday
Local time
12:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Brook, IL to Chicago, IL
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
29m
Distance
19.4 mi
31 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Brook, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
Traveling from Oak Brook to Chicago is a quick, 22-mile transition within the Midwest that typically takes about 32 minutes. Given the short duration, this is ideally suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. You can expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the journey, making it a very economical commute. Because you remain within the state of Illinois, the trip is straightforward and avoids the fatigue often associated with regional travel. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this route provides a direct connection between the suburbs and the urban core.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 19.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience rather than a long-distance highway haul. You will navigate through York Road and 22nd Street before transitioning onto I-294 North for a portion of your trek. With zero highway share defined for the route, the character is defined by stop-and-go urban navigation rather than high-speed cruising. There is no significant longest stretch here, as the road requires constant attention to local intersections and changing traffic patterns. It is a functional drive that prioritizes connectivity over scenic interstate stretches.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Eisenhower Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Eisenhower Expressway and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 19.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Merge onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Take the exit onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago
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 31
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Roc...
7
17.3 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
7
18.3 mi into trip
|
~26m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Oak Brook, IL to Chicago, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Milwaukee along the way.
Milwaukee
3 mi in
|
~4m
|
via I 294
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower Expressway | 13.2 mi | 18m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| York Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| 22nd Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Union Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Eisenhower Expressway
— 13.2 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Brook, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on Oak Brook Road
71 ft
·
8 sec
·
Oak Brook Road
2
Turn left onto York Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
York Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto 22nd Street
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
22nd Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 294
181 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto I 294
321 ft
·
7 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Exit 31
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 290 East: Chicago
9
Continue on this road
524 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
10
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
11
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
14
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
17
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
18
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
19
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
20
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
21
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.03 one way
$6.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.33 | $6.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.73 | $7.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.28 | $8.57 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.11
Tri-state Tollway
(1.3 mi)
$0.07
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(0.6 mi)
$0.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.04 | $0.93 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.70 | $0.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.72 | $1.24 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Late night in Chicago on Friday
Local time
12:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 to 15 mph
39% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 10:43AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 10:43AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA 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
1 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
29m 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 Oak Brook, IL to Chicago, IL covers 19.4 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Eisenhower Expressway, Tri-State Tollway, York 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 9.7 miles from Oak Brook, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.03 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 17 decision points packed into just 19.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Oak Brook, IL to Chicago, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Milwaukee along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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