How far is Louisville, IL from Chicago, IL?

The driving distance from Louisville, IL to Chicago, IL is about 234.7 miles (377.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 217.4 miles (349.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 40m 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
234.66 mi
03h 50m
Flight
217.34 mi
349.78 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Louisville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
217.34 mi
Kilometers
349.78 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
234.66 mi
Kilometers
377.65 km
Drive Time
03h 50m

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 03h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chicago
Sun, Apr 19, 4:01 AM CDT
Return by in Louisville
Sun, Apr 19, 7:52 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Louisville
2026-04-19T00:11
Arrive Chicago
Sun, Apr 19, 4:01 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:50 AM to 11:50 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:20 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Louisville
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
Rantoul
IL

Village in Illinois

From Louisville
117.2 mi
01h 55m
To Chicago
117.5 mi
01h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 14 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 Louisville and Chicago.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Chestnut Street

    1711 ft · 49 sec · Chestnut Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto County Road 925 E

    10 mi · 15 min · County Road 925 E

  3. 3

    Continue on United States Route 45

    14.9 mi · 22 min · United States Route 45

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Fayette Avenue

    1123 ft · 33 sec · West Fayette Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto South 3rd Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South 3rd Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right toward I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre Haute

    2624 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    1.3 km · 55 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    195.2 mi · 3 hr 34 min

  9. 9

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  10. 10

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

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

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Canalport Avenue, Cermak Road

    1620 ft · 40 sec

  12. 12

    Turn slight left onto South Ruble Street

    74 m · 7 sec · South Ruble Street

  13. 13

    Turn slight left

    23 m · 5 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto South Canalport Avenue

    887 ft · 26 sec · South Canalport Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto South Halsted Street

    737 ft · 19 sec · South Halsted Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West Cermak Road

    976 ft · 25 sec · West Cermak Road

  17. 17

    Turn left

    46 m · 11 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right

    794 ft · 58 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
195 mi · 83%
United States Route 45
14.9 mi · 6%
County Road 925 E
9.98 mi · 4%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
6.18 mi · 3%
Dan Ryan Expressway
3.33 mi · 1%
South 3rd Street
1.68 mi · 1%
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
03h 50m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.3 mi
217.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rantoul
01h 55m from Louisville
Leave By
9:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Louisville 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 Louisville to Chicago?

The road trip is about 234.7 miles (377.7 km) and usually takes 03h 50m 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?

Rantoul is a useful midpoint, sitting about 117.2 miles from Louisville and 117.5 miles from Chicago.

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

The direct path is about 217.4 miles (349.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.3 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 9:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.22 one way or $62.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Rantoul

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

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

RAIL

Rantoul

West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

23 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

49 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Gilman

52 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Louisville and Chicago. Straight-line distance: 217.34 mi (349.78 km).

Louisville

#1 Louisville

Village in Illinois

Population1,087
Coordinates38.7722700, -88.5025500
Altitude146
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: Chestnut Street (-88.502567, 38.77229)
End: (-87.650099, 41.850032)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 378 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.28 gal
31.34 L · about $31.22
Round trip
$62.45
16.56 gal · 62.68 L
Estimated CO2
73.6 kg one way
Round trip: 147.2 kg / 325 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.22 $62.45
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.21 $70.43
Premium $4.65 $38.54 $77.07
Diesel $5.30 $43.92 $87.83

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 Louisville and Chicago. The current time is 00:11:35.

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.