How far is Chicago, IL from Saline, IL?

The driving distance from Chicago, IL to Saline, IL is about 335 miles (539.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 295.8 miles (476 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
334.95 mi
06h 32m
Flight
295.77 mi
476 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
295.77 mi
Kilometers
476 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
334.95 mi
Kilometers
539.05 km
Drive Time
06h 32m

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 06h 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saline
Thu, Apr 23, 10:40 AM CDT
Return by in Chicago
Thu, Apr 23, 5:12 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chicago
2026-04-23T04:07
Arrive Saline
Thu, Apr 23, 10:40 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:33 PM to 2:03 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:54 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chicago
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Arcola
IL

Township in Douglas County, Illinois

From Chicago
167.6 mi
03h 16m
To Saline
167.3 mi
03h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
82°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 left to continue on I 90, I 94 East: Indiana

    929 ft · 23 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway

    1.2 km · 48 sec · Dan Ryan Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

    8.8 mi · 12 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    200.8 mi · 3 hr 41 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    65.7 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    37.4 mi · 40 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

    1758 ft · 43 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

    2421 ft · 59 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    1102 ft · 29 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight right onto West Deyoung Street

    7.8 mi · 11 min · West Deyoung Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Crab Orchard Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Crab Orchard Road

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Saraville Road

    3.7 mi · 9 min · Saraville Road

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Stonefort Road

    5.1 mi · 12 min · Stonefort Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Will Scarlet Road

    1.3 mi · 5 min · Will Scarlet Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Peabody Road

    1.2 km · 3 min · Peabody Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Peabody Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
22 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
267 mi · 80%
Ken Gray Expressway
37.4 mi · 11%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
8.83 mi · 3%
West Deyoung Street
7.78 mi · 2%
Stonefort Road
5.13 mi · 2%
Saraville Road
3.72 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Keep slight right to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

201 mi · 03h 41m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 32m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.2 mi
295.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arcola
03h 16m from Chicago
Leave By
10:54 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Chicago and Sunny near Saline.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 335 miles (539.1 km) and usually takes 06h 32m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Arcola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 167.6 miles from Chicago and 167.3 miles from Saline.

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

The direct path is about 295.8 miles (476 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.2 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.57 one way or $89.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 105 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Chicago and Sunny near Saline.

Stop Ideas Near Arcola

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Arcola, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Mattoon station

23 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

48 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Effingham

66 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

71 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chicago and Saline. Straight-line distance: 295.77 mi (476 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Saline

This southern Illinois community, with a population of approximately 23,182, is situated at an elevation of 400 feet in Saline County.

Population23,182
Coordinates37.6453300, -88.6958900
Altitude122
CountryUnited States
Start: Chicago (-87.650052, 41.850033)
End: Saline (-88.69589, 37.64533)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 539 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.82 gal
44.74 L · about $44.57
Round trip
$89.15
23.64 gal · 89.48 L
Estimated CO2
105 kg one way
Round trip: 210.1 kg / 463 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $44.57 $89.15
Mid-grade $4.25 $50.27 $100.54
Premium $4.65 $55.01 $110.02
Diesel $5.30 $62.69 $125.39

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Chicago and Saline. The current time is 04:07:47.

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.