Origin
Park Ridge, IL
Evening in Park Ridge on Thursday
Local time
8:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Park Ridge, IL to Zion, IL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
54m
Distance
36.9 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Park Ridge, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Zion, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Park Ridge, IL to Zion, IL covers 36.9 miles and takes about 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tri-State Tollway, North Sheridan Road, North Greenwood Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.4 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 36.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 54m drive with frequent turns across 36.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.3 miles in.
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 36.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.3 miles (IL 137 / Bobby E. Thompson Expressway): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.3 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
7
23.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward IL 137: Buckley Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13
Toward IL 137: Buckley Road
6
26.3 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
IL 137 / Bobby E. Thompson Expressway
Turn left onto IL 137 / Bobby E. Thompson Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
31.9 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
IL 137 / West Greenwood Avenue
Turn left onto IL 137 / West Greenwood Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
32.2 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
IL 137 / North Sheridan Road
Turn right onto IL 137 / North Sheridan Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| North Sheridan Road | 4.3 mi | 9m |
| North Greenwood Avenue | 3 mi | 6m |
| Buckley Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Sheridan Road | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Melvin Amstutz Highway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| West Golf Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Bobby E. Thompson Expressway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 18.4 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Park Ridge, IL and Zion, IL.
1
Start on this road
24 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto North Greenwood Avenue
3.0 mi
·
6 min
·
North Greenwood Avenue
3
Turn left onto IL 58
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Golf Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 294
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 13
Toward IL 137: Buckley Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn straight onto IL 137
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Buckley Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto IL 137
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
Bobby E. Thompson Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on IL 137
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheridan Road
10
Continue on IL 137
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Melvin Amstutz Highway
Use the left / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto IL 137
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Greenwood Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto IL 137
4.3 mi
·
9 min
·
North Sheridan Road
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto 27th Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
27th Street
14
Arrive at destination
27th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.4 mi from Park Ridge, IL · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Park Ridge, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Zion, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Zion, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.77 one way
$11.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.33 | $12.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.10 | $14.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.15 | $16.29 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.10
Tri-state Tollway
(18.4 mi)
$1.10
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.87 | $1.77 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Zion, IL
Evening in Zion on Thursday
Local time
8:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
9 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
54m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Park Ridge, IL to Zion, IL covers 36.9 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, North Sheridan Road, North Greenwood Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.4 miles from Park Ridge, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.77 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 36.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.3 miles (IL 137 / Bobby E. Thompson Expressway): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Park Ridge, IL to Zion, 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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