Illinois Winter Travel Warning Ahead of Christmas Road Trips

Are you getting ready to hit the road to visit family this Christmas? Be aware, these five roads in Illinois are often considered the most dangerous for winter driving.

Year-End Travel Forecast

For many people in Illinois, the days leading up to Christmas mean not only last-minute shopping, but preparing to travel to visit family, bringing even more stress into the mix.

AAA recently published its year-end travel forecast which predicts:

122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day year-end holiday period beginning December 20 and ending January 1. This year’s forecast is a 2.2% increase over 2024, surpassing last year’s record of 119.7 million travelers.

Out of the 122.4 million Americans that will be traveling this holiday season, 109.5 million will be driving according to AAA, which means traffic can, and will, get crazy. Hopefully, bad winter driving conditions won't be added to the mix too.

Worst Roads for Winter Travel in Illinois

If your Christmas plans involve highway driving in Illinois, you may want to be extra alert on certain routes. A survey conducted earlier this year of drivers throughout the United States identified these 5 highways as the most treacherous in Illinois:

Interstate 90 – One of the longest highways in the country, the Illinois stretch ranked particularly high for winter danger.

Interstate 80 – Known for snow drifts and sudden whiteout conditions.

Interstate 55 – Heavy traffic between Chicago and St. Louis makes icy conditions especially hazardous.

Interstate 94 – High traffic volumes increase risk when weather turns bad.

Interstate 57 – Often considered the most dangerous for driving in Illinois year-round, winter weather only adds to the challenge.

If you’re hitting the road this holiday season, slow down, stay alert, and give yourself extra space between cars and extra time to get where you're going. Arriving safely is the best Christmas gift of all.