Illinois

Driving Directions to Illinois – How to Get Around the Prairie State

Illinois sits in the upper Midwest, bordered by Wisconsin to the north, Indiana and Kentucky to the east, and Missouri and Iowa to the west. Lake Michigan touches its northeastern corner. The state capital is Springfield. The U.S. Census Bureau puts Illinois at 12,719,141 residents as of July 1, 2025.

Getting Into Chicago

Three interstates feed into Chicago. I-90 and I-80 come from the east through the southern suburbs. I-55 comes from the south straight into downtown. I-88 from the west connects to I-290, which drops you into the Loop. The Kennedy Expressway, the stretch of I-90/94 between O'Hare and downtown, is the most congested corridor in the city. If your Bing Maps or MapQuest driving directions route you through here during weekday rush hours, add a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes.

Directions to Millennium Park

Address: 201 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601. Nearest parking is Grant Park North Garage at 25 N. Michigan Ave, Grant Park South Garage at 325 S. Michigan Ave, and Millennium Park Garage at 5 S. Columbus Drive. From the expressway, take Columbus Drive south from Randolph. The Cloud Gate sculpture is free to visit any time. Admission to the park itself costs nothing.

Directions to Willis Tower Skydeck

Address: 233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606. Drive to the Willis Tower Garage at 241 S. Franklin Street, one block east. From I-290 eastbound, exit at Washington/Madison, go east two blocks, then south on Wacker. The Skydeck is on the 103rd floor. On a clear day the view reaches Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Directions to Navy Pier

Address: 600 E. Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. From I-90/94, take the Ohio Street exit, go east on Ohio to Wells, south to Illinois Street, and then east all the way to the pier. From I-290, take Columbus Drive north to Illinois Street, then east. The pier has two indoor parking garages accessible from Illinois Street and Lake Shore Drive, with space for 1,500 vehicles combined.

Directions to Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

Address: 212 N. 6th Street, Springfield, IL 62701. Take I-55 south from Chicago to the Springfield exits, then follow signs for downtown. Total drive is around 200 miles, roughly 3 hours under normal traffic. The Route 66 Hall of Fame in Pontiac sits right off I-55 on the way down and is worth a stop if you have time.

Rush hours in Chicago run 7 to 9 AM and 4 to 7 PM on weekdays. Friday evenings on I-90/94 heading north-west stay congested well past 8 PM.