Illinois road trips
Best Road Trips in Illinois
20 popular Illinois drives with distance, driving time, EV-friendliness and gas cost at the state's estimated $3.45/gal.
Editor's picks
Top Illinois Drives Right Now
Curated short-distance Illinois routes — the most popular, lowest-cost picks.
Milwaukee, WI → Chicago, IL
96 mi · 1.5 h · ~$12 gas
Indianapolis, IN → Chicago, IL
185 mi · 3.0 h · ~$23 gas
Madison, WI → Chicago, IL
144 mi · 2.3 h · ~$18 gas
Detroit, MI → Chicago, IL
279 mi · 4.5 h · ~$34 gas
Grand Rapids, MI → Chicago, IL
147 mi · 2.4 h · ~$18 gas
Ann Arbor, MI → Chicago, IL
238 mi · 3.8 h · ~$29 gas
Our Illinois road trip ranking method
Routes are ranked by traveler popularity between Illinois metros and major destinations, with distance, driving time and current $3.45/gal fuel cost calculated for every drive.
- Distance: city-center to city-center with a 1.18× road-curvature factor.
- Fuel cost: 28 MPG baseline × $3.45/gal Illinois regular.
- Popularity: traveler-intent signals between major Illinois origins and destinations.
- EV practicality: regional DC fast-charging coverage flagged per route.
Portland → Chicago
The headline Illinois road trip — 1048 miles, about 16.9 hours of driving and roughly $129 in gas at $3.45/gal.
More top Illinois drives (19)
Boston → Chicago
1001 mi · ~16.1 h · ~$123 gas
Open tripProvidence → Chicago
984 mi · ~15.9 h · ~$121 gas
Open tripManchester → Chicago
976 mi · ~15.7 h · ~$120 gas
Open tripHartford → Chicago
908 mi · ~14.6 h · ~$112 gas
Open tripBurlington → Chicago
882 mi · ~14.2 h · ~$109 gas
Open tripAtlantic City → Chicago
842 mi · ~13.6 h · ~$104 gas
Open tripNew York → Chicago
839 mi · ~13.5 h · ~$103 gas
Open tripAlbany → Chicago
838 mi · ~13.5 h · ~$103 gas
Open tripNewark → Chicago
829 mi · ~13.4 h · ~$102 gas
Open tripPhiladelphia → Chicago
783 mi · ~12.6 h · ~$96 gas
Open tripWilmington → Chicago
765 mi · ~12.3 h · ~$94 gas
Open tripScranton → Chicago
730 mi · ~11.8 h · ~$90 gas
Open tripBaltimore → Chicago
714 mi · ~11.5 h · ~$88 gas
Open tripWashington → Chicago
700 mi · ~11.3 h · ~$86 gas
Open tripSyracuse → Chicago
696 mi · ~11.2 h · ~$86 gas
Open tripHarrisburg → Chicago
673 mi · ~10.9 h · ~$83 gas
Open tripRochester → Chicago
611 mi · ~9.9 h · ~$75 gas
Open tripBuffalo → Chicago
533 mi · ~8.6 h · ~$66 gas
Open tripPittsburgh → Chicago
483 mi · ~7.8 h · ~$60 gas
Open tripBest driving cost routes in Illinois
Top Illinois road trips with gas, distance and driving time at the state's estimated $3.45/gal.
Cheapest Illinois road trips
Short, low-fuel-cost drives — great for a weekend trip from Illinois.
Long-distance road trips from Illinois
500+ mile drives for cross-country and multi-day road trip planning.
Drives in neighboring states
Cross-state routes near Illinois — Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan.
Gas prices in Illinois
Estimated regular at $3.45/gal · premium $4.15 · diesel $3.75.
Best vehicles for Illinois drivers
- Best hybridToyota Prius57 MPG
- Best EVLucid Air134 MPGe
- Best SUVNissan Rogue33 MPG
- Best truckFord Maverick26 MPG
Commute cost in Illinois
Daily driving cost estimates for major Illinois-area cities.
EV vs gas in Illinois
Compare driving cost of an EV vs a gas car for Illinois trips and commutes.
Neighboring state road trip hubs
FAQ
What's the best time of year for a Illinois road trip?
Spring and fall typically offer the most comfortable driving weather across most of Illinois. Coastal and southern routes are pleasant year-round; mountain routes are best between late spring and early fall.
How much does a Illinois road trip cost in fuel?
At Illinois's estimated $3.45/gal and 28 MPG, expect roughly $12.32 per 100 miles. Each route below includes a detailed estimate.
Is Illinois EV-friendly for road trips?
Yes — most popular Illinois routes have solid DC fast-charging coverage. Check our EV-friendly routes collection for the strongest picks.
How accurate are these distances?
Distances are calculated from city centers using a road-curvature factor of about 1.18 over straight-line distance. Real-world mileage varies by route choice and traffic.