Origin
Uptown, IL
Evening in Uptown on Tuesday
Local time
6:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Uptown, IL to Chicago, IL
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
19m
Distance
9.7 mi
16 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 18m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Uptown, IL
Quang Vuong
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
The drive from Uptown, IL to Chicago, IL covers 9.7 miles and takes about 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kennedy Expressway, North Ashland Avenue, Dan Ryan Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 3.1 miles on Kennedy Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
4.9 miles from Uptown, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Uptown, IL to Chicago, IL covers 9.7 miles and takes about 19m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kennedy Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 3.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in near West Armitage Avenue.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 9.7 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 4.2 miles (West Armitage Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (North Paulina Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
4.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
West Armitage Avenue
Turn right onto West Armitage Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
4.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
North Paulina Street
Turn sharp left onto North Paulina Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
4.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 East, I 94 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
5
4.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 90; I 94 / Kennedy Expressway
Merge onto I 90; I 94 / Kennedy Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
8.7 mi into trip
|
~16m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Expressway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| North Ashland Avenue | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Sheridan Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Irving Park Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Union Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Armitage Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kennedy Expressway
— 3.1 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Uptown, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on this road
181 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on West Eastwood Avenue
509 ft
·
21 sec
·
West Eastwood Avenue
3
Turn left onto North Sheridan Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Sheridan Road
4
Turn right onto IL 19
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Irving Park Road
5
Turn left onto North Ashland Avenue
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
North Ashland Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto West Armitage Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Armitage Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Turn sharp left onto North Paulina Street
287 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Paulina Street
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East
9
Merge onto I 90; I 94
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 90; I 94
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Union Avenue
13
Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Canalport Avenue
14
Turn left onto South Halsted Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Halsted Street
15
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Cermak Road
16
Turn left
152 ft
·
11 sec
17
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 4.9 miles from Uptown, IL, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3.1 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 9.7 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4.9 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 15m
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 Uptown, 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 Uptown, IL
This is one driving day of about 9.7 miles and 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Uptown, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Kennedy Expressway for about 3.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4.9 mi from Uptown, IL · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
5 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 9.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 4.9 miles from Uptown, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.52 one way
$3.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.67 | $3.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.87 | $3.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.14 | $4.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.47 |
| Efficient EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.85 | $0.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.36 | $0.62 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Chicago, IL
Evening in Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
6:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
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
27 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
19m 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 Uptown, IL to Chicago, IL covers 9.7 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kennedy Expressway, North Ashland Avenue, Dan Ryan Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.9 miles from Uptown, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.52 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 9.7 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 4.2 miles (West Armitage Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (North Paulina Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Uptown, IL to Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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