Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
CautionNear 93°F near Missouri–Arkansas line around 2 PM CDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Sunny71°F Kankakee8 AM CDT Mostly sunny72°F Champaign9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny76°F Effingham10:15 AM CDT Sunny80°F Marion12 PM CDT Sunny83°F Illinois–Missouri line12:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny86°F Missouri–Arkansas line2 PM CDT Mostly sunny93°F Memphis3:15 PM CDT Sunny92°F - WedOct 14
CautionChance of thunderstorms near Marion around 12 PM CDT. Also at 3 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Chance of rain showers63°F Kankakee8 AM CDT Rain showers likely65°F Champaign9:15 AM CDT Rain showers72°F Effingham10:15 AM CDT Light rain showers76°F Marion12 PM CDT Chance of thunderstorms80°F Illinois–Missouri line12:45 PM CDT Chance of thunderstorms83°F Missouri–Arkansas line2 PM CDT Chance of thunderstorms92°F Memphis3:15 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers92°F - ThuOct 15
CautionChance of thunderstorms near Chicago around 7 AM CDT. Also at 2 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Chance of thunderstorms57°F Kankakee8 AM CDT Rain showers likely57°F Champaign9:15 AM CDT Light rain showers66°F Effingham10:15 AM CDT Light rain showers71°F Marion12 PM CDT Light rain showers likely78°F Illinois–Missouri line12:45 PM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers83°F Missouri–Arkansas line2 PM CDT Sunny90°F Memphis3:15 PM CDT Sunny91°F - FriOct 16
CautionGusts to 31 mph near Champaign around 9:15 AM CDT. Also at 3 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Partly sunny53°F Kankakee8 AM CDT Partly sunny50°F Champaign9:15 AM CDT Partly sunny54°F Effingham10:15 AM CDT Partly sunny58°F Marion12 PM CDT Partly sunny63°F Illinois–Missouri line12:45 PM CDT Partly sunny68°F Missouri–Arkansas line2 PM CDT Mostly sunny71°F Memphis3:15 PM CDT Partly sunny74°F - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 40–67°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Mostly sunny45°F Kankakee8 AM CDT Sunny40°F Champaign9:15 AM CDT Sunny45°F Effingham10:15 AM CDT Sunny49°F Marion12 PM CDT Mostly sunny54°F Illinois–Missouri line12:45 PM CDT Sunny59°F Missouri–Arkansas line2 PM CDT Sunny65°F Memphis3:15 PM CDT Sunny67°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 41–74°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Mostly sunny45°F Kankakee8 AM CDT Sunny41°F Champaign9:15 AM CDT Sunny47°F Effingham10:15 AM CDT Sunny52°F Marion12 PM CDT Mostly sunny60°F Illinois–Missouri line12:45 PM CDT Sunny65°F Missouri–Arkansas line2 PM CDT Sunny72°F Memphis3:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny74°F - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 49–80°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Partly sunny51°F Kankakee8 AM CDT Partly sunny49°F Champaign9:15 AM CDT Partly sunny54°F Effingham10:15 AM CDT Partly sunny59°F Marion12 PM CDT Mostly sunny65°F Illinois–Missouri line12:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny72°F Missouri–Arkansas line2 PM CDT Mostly sunny78°F Memphis3:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny80°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Chicago (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Chicago, ILStart 594 ftelevation
- Kankakee, ILMile 58 · 1 h 1 min 656 ftelevation
- Champaign, ILMile 132 · 2 h 8 min 737 ftelevation
- Effingham, ILMile 210 · 3 h 18 min 598 ftelevation
- Marion, ILMile 317 · 4 h 55 min 425 ftelevation
- Illinois–Missouri lineState line · Mile 370 · 5 h 43 min 360 ftelevation
- Missouri–Arkansas lineState line · Mile 458 · 7 h 3 min 257 ftelevation
- Memphis, TNMile 532 · 8 h 9 min 270 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rain, at Chicago, Champaign and Memphis.
| Month | Chicago 658 ft | Champaign 721 ft | Memphis 254 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Precip (in) | High / low °F | Precip (in) | High / low °F | Precip (in) | |
| Jan | 32° / 19° | 2.0 | 34° / 18° | 2.3 | 51° / 33° | 4.1 |
| Feb | 36° / 22° | 2.0 | 38° / 21° | 2.2 | 56° / 37° | 4.5 |
| Mar | 47° / 31° | 2.5 | 50° / 31° | 2.8 | 64° / 44° | 5.7 |
| Apr | 59° / 40° | 3.8 | 63° / 42° | 3.9 | 73° / 53° | 5.9 |
| May | 71° / 51° | 4.5 | 74° / 53° | 4.8 | 82° / 62° | 5.3 |
| Jun | 80° / 61° | 4.1 | 83° / 62° | 4.6 | 89° / 70° | 4.0 |
| Jul | 85° / 66° | 3.7 | 85° / 65° | 4.5 | 92° / 74° | 4.8 |
| Aug | 83° / 65° | 4.2 | 84° / 64° | 3.5 | 92° / 73° | 3.4 |
| Sep | 76° / 57° | 3.2 | 79° / 56° | 3.4 | 86° / 66° | 3.0 |
| Oct | 63° / 45° | 3.4 | 66° / 44° | 3.4 | 75° / 54° | 4.0 |
| Nov | 48° / 34° | 2.4 | 51° / 32° | 3.2 | 63° / 43° | 4.7 |
| Dec | 37° / 24° | 2.1 | 39° / 24° | 2.4 | 53° / 36° | 5.5 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: CHICAGO OHARE INTL AP (USW00094846, 658 ft); CHAMPAIGN 3S (USC00118740, 721 ft); MEMPHIS INTL AP (USW00013893, 254 ft). Precipitation is the monthly total of rain and melted snow, in inches. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee rather than repeat them.
- Illinois · IDOTGetting Around Illinois road conditions
- Missouri · MoDOTTraveler information map
- Arkansas · ARDOTIDriveArkansas road conditions
- Tennessee · TDOTSmartWay road conditions
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Chicago to Memphis with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Chicago to Memphis?
532 miles, about 8 hours of driving without stops, by way of I-57 and I-55. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the wettest month in Memphis?
April. Memphis averages 5.9 inches of rain and melted snow that month (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Memphis in January?
Memphis averages a high of 51°F and a low of 33°F in January (1991–2020 normals).