How far is Jonesboro, IL from Chicago, IL?

The driving distance from Jonesboro, IL to Chicago, IL is about 347.2 miles (558.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 315.8 miles (508.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 58m 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
347.24 mi
05h 29m
Flight
315.83 mi
508.28 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jonesboro.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
315.83 mi
Kilometers
508.28 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
347.24 mi
Kilometers
558.83 km
Drive Time
05h 29m

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 05h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chicago
Fri, May 1, 7:44 PM CDT
Return by in Jonesboro
Sat, May 2, 1:14 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jonesboro
2026-05-01T14:15
Arrive Chicago
Fri, May 1, 7:44 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:29 AM to 1:29 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
6:02 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jonesboro
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
Humboldt
IL

Village in Coles County, Illinois, United States of America

From Jonesboro
173.4 mi
02h 44m
To Chicago
173.9 mi
02h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 mph N
Destination
50°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    11 m · 3 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Public Square

    6 m · 8 sec · Public Square

  3. 3

    Continue on Public Square

    39 m · 6 sec · Public Square

  4. 4

    Merge sharp left onto Public Square

    111 m · 8 sec · Public Square

  5. 5

    Turn slight right onto Broad Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Broad Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto East Vienna Street

    5.8 mi · 8 min · East Vienna Street

  7. 7

    Continue on 770N

    1338 ft · 28 sec · 770N

  8. 8

    Take the ramp left

    1462 ft · 36 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

    65.6 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    67.5 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    195.2 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  12. 12

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  13. 13

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

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

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road

    1620 ft · 40 sec

  15. 15

    Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street

    74 m · 7 sec · South Ruble Street

  16. 16

    Turn slight left

    23 m · 5 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue

    887 ft · 26 sec · South Canalport Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South Halsted Street

    737 ft · 19 sec · South Halsted Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto West Cermak Road

    976 ft · 25 sec · West Cermak Road

  20. 20

    Turn left

    46 m · 11 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right

    794 ft · 58 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
195 mi · 56%
Ken Gray Expressway
133 mi · 38%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
6.18 mi · 2%
East Vienna Street
5.76 mi · 2%
Dan Ryan Expressway
3.33 mi · 1%
Broad Street
1.35 mi
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

195 mi · 03h 34m

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
05h 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.4 mi
315.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Humboldt
02h 44m from Jonesboro
Leave By
6:02 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Jonesboro and Mostly Sunny near Chicago.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 347.2 miles (558.8 km) and usually takes 05h 29m 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?

Humboldt is a useful midpoint, sitting about 173.4 miles from Jonesboro and 173.9 miles from Chicago.

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

The direct path is about 315.8 miles (508.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.4 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:02 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.19 one way or $92.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Humboldt

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

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

RAIL

Mattoon station

14 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Effingham

57 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

57 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

80 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jonesboro and Chicago. Straight-line distance: 315.83 mi (508.28 km).

Jonesboro

#1 Jonesboro

City in Union County, Illinois, United States

Population1,677
Coordinates37.4517200, -89.2681400
Altitude172
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: Public Square (-89.268226, 37.451677)
End: (-87.650099, 41.850032)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 559 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.25 gal
46.38 L · about $46.19
Round trip
$92.39
24.5 gal · 92.76 L
Estimated CO2
108.9 kg one way
Round trip: 217.7 kg / 480 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $46.19 $92.39
Mid-grade $4.25 $52.10 $104.20
Premium $4.65 $57.01 $114.02
Diesel $5.30 $64.97 $129.95

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 · May 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Jonesboro and Chicago. The current time is 14:15:33.

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.