Origin
Yorkville, IL
Afternoon in Yorkville on Thursday
Local time
4:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Yorkville, IL to Chicago, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
48.3 mi
78 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yorkville, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Trip Overview
This 48.3-mile drive from Yorkville, IL to Chicago, IL is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 12 minutes. Given its short duration and manageable distance, it's an ideal one-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You'll primarily navigate via I-55, with portions on East Schoolhouse Road and West Lockport Road contributing to the overall route. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $8, making it an economical option. This drive stays within the Midwest region, connecting two points within Illinois, and offers a mixed driving experience.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 48.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 59% of your travel occurring on highways. The majority of your journey will be on I-55, featuring a longest uninterrupted stretch of 24.9 miles. While the interstate offers efficient travel, be prepared for the transition onto local roads like East Schoolhouse Road and West Lockport Road, which will alter the driving pace. This blend means you'll experience both faster highway speeds and more typical suburban or town driving.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 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 24.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near East Schoolhouse Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.4 miles (East Schoolhouse Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.4 miles (West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Schoolhouse Road
Turn left onto East Schoolhouse Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
13.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
West Main Street
Turn left onto West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
45.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m 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
45.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m 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
45.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 24.9 mi | 33m |
| East Schoolhouse Road | 7.5 mi | 11m |
| West Lockport Road | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Stevenson Expressway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Damen Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Lockport Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 24.9 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yorkville, IL and Chicago, IL.
1
Start on South Bridge Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Bridge Street
Use the left lane.
2
Turn left onto East Schoolhouse Road
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
East Schoolhouse Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on West Lockport Road
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
West Lockport Road
4
Continue on West Lockport Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Lockport Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto West Main Street
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West Main Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 55 North
7
Merge onto I 55
25 mi
·
33 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 55
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 290
Toward Damen Avenue, Ashland Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward Damen Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
440 ft
·
12 sec
Toward Ashland Market Place, South Damen Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn straight onto South Damen Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Damen Avenue
13
Turn right onto South Blue Island Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Blue Island Avenue
14
Turn right onto West Cermak Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cermak Road
15
Turn right
152 ft
·
11 sec
16
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.2 mi from Yorkville, IL · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.2 miles from Yorkville, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.55 one way
$15.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.29 | $16.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.29 | $18.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.66 | $21.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Afternoon in Chicago on Thursday
Local time
4:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Isolated Rain Showers
N 10 to 15 mph
24% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 3:15PM CDT until April 16 at 4:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 3:10PM CDT until April 16 at 4:15PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 12m 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 Yorkville, IL to Chicago, IL covers 48.3 miles and takes about 1h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, East Schoolhouse Road, West Lockport Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.2 miles from Yorkville, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.55 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 48.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.4 miles (East Schoolhouse Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.4 miles (West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Yorkville, 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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