How far is Ford Heights, IL from Chicago, IL?

The driving distance from Ford Heights, IL to Chicago, IL is about 28.3 miles (45.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 23.9 miles (38.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 08m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
28.3 mi
00h 34m
Flight
23.93 mi
38.51 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ford Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
23.93 mi
Kilometers
38.51 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
28.3 mi
Kilometers
45.55 km
Drive Time
00h 34m

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 00h 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chicago
Sun, Apr 19, 11:40 AM CDT
Return by in Ford Heights
Sun, Apr 19, 12:14 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ford Heights
2026-04-19T11:05
Arrive Chicago
Sun, Apr 19, 11:40 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:34 AM to 7:34 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:22 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Ford Heights
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Dolton
IL

Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

From Ford Heights
14.1 mi
00h 17m
To Chicago
14.2 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WNW
Destination
52°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ford Heights and Chicago.

  1. 1

    Start on Lincoln Highway

    1.2 km · 2 min · Lincoln Highway

  2. 2

    Take the ramp slight right toward IL 394 North: Chicago

    1298 ft · 32 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto Calumet Expressway

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Calumet Expressway

  4. 4

    Continue on Bishop Ford Freeway

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Bishop Ford Freeway

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on Bishop Ford Freeway

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Bishop Ford Freeway

  6. 6

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  7. 7

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

    6.2 mi · 9 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road

    1620 ft · 40 sec

  9. 9

    Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street

    74 m · 7 sec · South Ruble Street

  10. 10

    Turn slight left

    23 m · 5 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue

    887 ft · 26 sec · South Canalport Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South Halsted Street

    737 ft · 19 sec · South Halsted Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto West Cermak Road

    976 ft · 25 sec · West Cermak Road

  14. 14

    Turn left

    46 m · 11 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right

    794 ft · 58 sec

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
16 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
56.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bishop Ford Freeway
10.7 mi · 38%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
6.18 mi · 22%
Calumet Expressway
5.93 mi · 21%
Dan Ryan Expressway
3.33 mi · 12%
Lincoln Highway
0.77 mi · 3%
Canalport Avenue
0.31 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Bishop Ford Freeway

Continue on Bishop Ford Freeway

7.93 mi · 00h 11m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 34m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.4 mi
23.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dolton
00h 17m from Ford Heights
Leave By
7:22 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Ford Heights and Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny near Chicago.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ford Heights to Chicago?

The road trip is about 28.3 miles (45.6 km) and usually takes 00h 34m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Dolton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 14.1 miles from Ford Heights and 14.2 miles from Chicago.

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

The direct path is about 23.9 miles (38.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.4 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:22 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.77 one way or $7.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny around Ford Heights and Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny near Chicago.

Stop Ideas Near Dolton

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Dolton, 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 Dolton.

RAIL

Hammond–Whiting station

10 mi away
1135 South Calumet Ave.
RAIL

Homewood

10 mi away
18015 Park Ave.
RAIL

Dyer station

17 mi away
913 Sheffield Avenue
BUS

Gary, IN

23 mi away
100 West 4th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ford Heights and Chicago. Straight-line distance: 23.93 mi (38.51 km).

Ford Heights

#1 Ford Heights

Village in United States of America

Population2,647
Coordinates41.5064200, -87.5917100
Altitude202
CountryUnited States
Chicago

#2 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
Start: Lincoln Highway (-87.591709, 41.506262)
End: (-87.650099, 41.850032)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 46 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1 gal
3.78 L · about $3.77
Round trip
$7.54
2 gal · 7.56 L
Estimated CO2
8.9 kg one way
Round trip: 17.8 kg / 39 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $3.77 $7.54
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.25 $8.51
Premium $4.65 $4.65 $9.31
Diesel $5.30 $5.30 $10.61

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 Ford Heights and Chicago. The current time is 11:05:38.

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.