How far is Chicago, IL from Jacksonville, IL?

The driving distance from Chicago, IL to Jacksonville, IL is about 234.1 miles (376.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 198.9 miles (320.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
234.15 mi
04h 26m
Flight
198.92 mi
320.13 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chicago.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
198.92 mi
Kilometers
320.13 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
234.15 mi
Kilometers
376.82 km
Drive Time
04h 26m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Jacksonville
Sun, Apr 19, 4:24 AM CDT
Return by in Chicago
Sun, Apr 19, 8:51 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chicago
2026-04-18T23:58
Arrive Jacksonville
Sun, Apr 19, 4:24 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:26 AM to 12:26 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chicago
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Lexington
IL

City in McLean County, Illinois, United States

From Chicago
117 mi
02h 13m
To Jacksonville
117.1 mi
02h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph WSW
Destination
63°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Chicago and Jacksonville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chicago and Jacksonville.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    943 ft · 1 min

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Cermak Road

    947 ft · 26 sec · West Cermak Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South Halsted Street

    737 ft · 17 sec · South Halsted Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

    87 m · 6 sec · South Canalport Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn slight right

    34 m · 5 sec

  6. 6

    Take the ramp straight toward I 90 East, I 94 East

    139 m · 11 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55: Saint Louis, Lake Shore Drive

    1820 ft · 44 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: St Louis

    2604 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Stevenson Expressway

    5.6 mi · 8 min · Stevenson Expressway

  10. 10

    Continue on Adlai E Stevenson Expressway

    1739 ft · 27 sec · Adlai E Stevenson Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    128.7 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

    64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville

    28.9 mi · 31 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 72 Business West: Jacksonville

    1987 ft · 48 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 72 Business West: Jacksonville

    132 m · 12 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Old Route 36

    1 km · 56 sec · Old Route 36

  17. 17

    Continue on East Morton Avenue

    2.5 mi · 4 min · East Morton Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · South Main Street

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn right onto South Central Park Plaza

    10 m · 1 sec · South Central Park Plaza

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Central Park Plaza

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chicago and Jacksonville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
129 mi · 55%
I 55 South
65.3 mi · 28%
I 72 West
28.9 mi · 12%
Stevenson Expressway
5.61 mi · 2%
East Morton Avenue
2.49 mi · 1%
South Main Street
0.73 mi
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Continue on Adlai Stevenson Expressway

129 mi · 02h 26m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 26m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35.2 mi
198.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lexington
02h 13m from Chicago
Leave By
8:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Chicago and Showers And Thunderstorms near Jacksonville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chicago to Jacksonville?

The road trip is about 234.1 miles (376.8 km) and usually takes 04h 26m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lexington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 117 miles from Chicago and 117.1 miles from Jacksonville.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 198.9 miles (320.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.15 one way or $62.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Chicago and Showers And Thunderstorms near Jacksonville.

Stop Ideas Near Lexington

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Lexington and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 11.5 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Meeting point 13.3 mi away

City of Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
Rating 3.6/5 8 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 13.3 mi away

Bloomington Finance Department

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
City tax office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lexington.

RAIL

Uptown Station

22 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

29 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Dwight station

58 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Rantoul

64 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chicago and Jacksonville. Straight-line distance: 198.92 mi (320.13 km).

Chicago

#1 Chicago

The third most populous city in the United States and the center of the Chicago metropolitan area.

Population2,677,643
Coordinates41.850033, -87.6500523
Altitude179
CountryUnited States
Jacksonville

#2 Jacksonville

City in Morgan County, Illinois, United States

Population18,488
Coordinates39.7339400, -90.2290100
Altitude186
CountryUnited States
Start: Chicago (-87.650052, 41.850033)
End: Jacksonville (-90.22901, 39.73394)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 377 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.26 gal
31.28 L · about $31.15
Round trip
$62.30
16.52 gal · 62.56 L
Estimated CO2
73.4 kg one way
Round trip: 146.8 kg / 324 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.15 $62.30
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.13 $70.26
Premium $4.65 $38.44 $76.88
Diesel $5.30 $43.81 $87.62

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Chicago and Jacksonville. The current time is 23:58:14.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.