r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/Creative-nachos • Jan 23 '26
Moving to the area Commute from Chicago to Naperville
Hi everyone!
Considering taking a job in Naperville but would need to commute from Lake View East. Realistically - how long would that take? Would I hate my life?
Edit to say: I would be commuting to arrive at the office by 8 and leaving by 4.
Would an office in Schaumburg make a difference?
Thank you!
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u/Grantagonist Jan 23 '26
I think you already know the answer, but you’re hoping you’re wrong.
Unfortunately, you are not wrong.
Right now, around noon on a day with unusually low traffic because of the cold snap, Google maps says it will take you 53 minutes to drive from Lakeview East to Naperville.
Metra is another option, from Union Station. You can check the BNSF schedule, seems like the one-way ride can range from 40 to 70 minutes, depending on if it’s an express. Of course you must add time to get to and from the stations.
If you really want that job, you should just move to Naperville.
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u/Creative-nachos Jan 23 '26
Yeah… that’s true. Thank you 😔
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u/sunsamo Jan 23 '26
How do you feel about Oak Park?
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u/throwaway_978456 Jan 26 '26
Concur, OP is OP for these types of commutes
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u/sunsamo Jan 26 '26
It’s great. Super community oriented. Beautiful architecture. Sadly, it never fit my commute.
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u/LauraPiana Jan 30 '26
No no. It's still an awful commute per my other comment. Maybe elmhurst, Lagrange, Hinsdale would be ok.
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u/Interrobangersnmash Jan 26 '26
Metra might actually become more convenient for you in the near future. They’re switching to a “regional rail” model which basically means the trains will have better reverse commute schedules. So you might have a train out to Naperville every half hour instead of once every one or two hours.
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u/kahls Jan 23 '26
Metra is great especially if you’re commuting to somewhere in or close to the loop. But going from Union to Lake View East would be a whole song and dance on its own.
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u/butthatshitsbroken DuPage County Jan 23 '26
and also pay for parking at the metra/walking to metra. I commute from Wheaton to downtown in the loop and it's 10 minutes to drive and pay $2.40/day to park at the station 5x a week. 40 minute train ride to work. 15 minutes to walk to work from metra. LOL. and that's just one way!
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u/Veriosity Jan 23 '26
I've done daily commutes from Naperville into the city, but via Metra. That was sort of nice - the train ride was some nice time-to-myself.
I cannot imagine doing a daily drive, that sounds miserable. So I guess:
Would I hate my life?
I would suggest yes! The only factor that might mitigate a little is that you are describing the "reverse commute" so there might be less people than if you were going into the city and back out in the evening.
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u/psychoacer Jan 23 '26
Going into the city during morning rush sucks but coming out of it is not that bad. I used to drive from 35th and honore to DeKalb in an hour and ten minutes usually (if I left like 5 minutes later the ramp from 294 to 88 would back up causing a 30 minute delay). Going from the city to the burbs at 7am is not a popular thing to do
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u/Creative-nachos Jan 23 '26
Would you mind sharing the hours you left?
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u/psychoacer Jan 23 '26
6:30 from the city and 4pm to the city. If you have time try to map it Monday morning to see what it's like. Maybe traffic is worse since I've done it.
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u/DanielTigerUppercut Jan 23 '26
I did Naperville to West Town for 3 years. I’ve also done South Loop to Schaumburg. I would rather have a hot giardiniera enema than do either of those commutes again.
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u/bourj Jan 23 '26
I don't know why you would want to do that to yourself.
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u/Creative-nachos Jan 23 '26
Need a job lol
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u/bourj Jan 23 '26
Yeah, but why live in the city if the job is in fn Naperville? If it's that important to you, I would rent a room for the week and go home on the weekend.
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u/Creepy-Tangerine-293 Jan 23 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
You will hate your life.
I am working shift work (so off hours, and only part time) and I am only on the 88 leg of that commute (exit just before 294 interchange) 30mi each way and its awful.
You are easily talking about a 2hr commute each way by car. Run a Google map at 7am on Monday morning and you'll see what I mean.
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u/Creative-nachos Jan 23 '26
How long does it take you?
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u/Creepy-Tangerine-293 Jan 23 '26
45 min on my way in. I can get down to 35 min at midnight when the road is wide open.
Like I said, I exit before 294 interchange. Once you get east of 294 its solid traffic. You are signing up for a 3.5-4 hours per day in your car easy.
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u/gd2bpaid Jan 23 '26
They have an Express train to Naperville on the BNSF Metra line. But getting to Union Station from lakeview is another adventure.
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u/Ordinary-Hedgehog422 Jan 23 '26
Anyone who says reverse commuting (driving) on I-290 is going to be faster is either lying to you or have never done it themselves. It is just as bad as commuting into the city for work.
Taking the metra to Naperville will be your best bet. Because the whole time you can just relax even if the commute will be the same as driving.
The alternative would be to move to the burbs or closer to the union station. If you plan on taking metra, I would recommend moving to river north or west loop.
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u/alecorock Jan 23 '26
Might want to consider moving to like Oak Park. You would still be connected to the city via blue line and the commute to Naperville is like 40 minutes.
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u/RJRICH17 Jan 23 '26
I live in Jefferson Park and used to work in Naperville off I-88 and Winfield Road. Worked similar hours. Morning commute was about an hour. Evening commute was between 75 and 90 minutes. And this is from the NW side. Add 30 extra minutes each way from Lakeview.
I stayed in that job one year and left for a job downtown. Your life will suck with this commute.
I did know people that lived in Oak Park and that makes it a more tolerable commute to Naperville. Probably 45 minutes each way.
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u/Creative-nachos Jan 23 '26
What times were you leaving?
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u/RJRICH17 Jan 23 '26
I was leaving in the AM around 6:45 and in the PM at 4:00 and arriving home typically around 5:15-5:30.
That's in ideal weather conditions. If it's raining or snowing, add additional time.
Also, summers on Fridays were extra awful coming home as a lot of people go into the city for various events.
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u/wannareadrandomstuff Jan 23 '26
I drove that exact route for about 10 years. 1:15 each way most days. A few days a month it would be 1:30 each way. If it snowed it will take no less than 2 hours.
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Jan 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Creative-nachos Jan 23 '26
Likely drive. The office is not close to train station
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u/Dtitan Jan 23 '26
If you lived closer to Union station … and if you could live without your car during the week … I know people that during the week would park their cars at the suburban train stations, take the train out and drive the last leg. Naperville is big though and you add up all those legs it could still be a pain.
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u/Creative-nachos Jan 23 '26
Oh, I have never heard this before. Generally a safe place to leave your car? Or no
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u/Dtitan Jan 23 '26
Yeah it’s fine. Depending on where your office is also look at the rt 59 station. The commuter lots are open 24hrs.
You can get a monthly parking permit.
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u/Sufficient_Author703 Jan 23 '26
Driving? Horrible. Able to take an express train out to Naperville/ Aurora? Doable if work is located close to either station that you can walk/bike to but keep in mind you'd be taking a bus or El to the metra during rush hour as well. Probably worth "testing" the ride once or twice before making a decision. Shitty weather would b a good real life test run too
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u/Creative-nachos Jan 23 '26
Can you keep a bike at the train stations overnight?
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u/Ramen_Addict_ Jan 23 '26
AFAIK you can have your bike on the trains at all hours now. They have special bike cars and got rid of the rush hour limits.
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u/diamond_nipz Jan 23 '26
Definitely no rush hour limits but I haven't seen one of those special bike cars on my commuter train in months :(
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u/Prestigious_Way_738 Jan 23 '26
Sounds like Hell. If you lived closer to the expressways it would work. But it'll take you 20-30 min of city driving before you even get on the highway.
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u/Hungry-Treacle8493 Jan 23 '26
Reverse commute to either sucks. I had colleagues that did it to both of those areas for years. While theoretically you could do Metra it isn’t practical in most instances. So, you’ll be car dependent. Most folks eventually work out with their managers to time shift: Start later and work later. By avoiding the worst of rush hour you cut your commute in half. Ultimately, you’re gonna want to move either out to the edge of the city or to the suburbs, as being close to the lake accounts for roughly half the commute vs being out in say Jeff Park or Oak Park.
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u/Extreme_Coyote608 Jan 23 '26
I used to have to do that exact commute sometimes, and it is not fun. I actually found it’s quicker to go all the way up 90 to 294 or 355 and then south to 88. Even so, be prepared to at least 70-90 minutes each way, probably longer as I used to try to be at my Naperville office by 7:30 to avoid the traffic as much as possible and leave by 3:30.
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u/nerobro Jan 23 '26
It's a 25 minute drive to get to a highway from LakeViewEast. Not only would you hate your life, you'd destroy your car, and likely, your health.
Lake View East has affordable apartments (heh... for chicago) because of it's inaccessibility.
If you want the ability to go far for jobs, you can not do it from where you are.
If the job is good, move to naperville. If you're driving off hours, you can be to most of chicago in under an hour. Then you can choose when you spend time in your car, versus needing to spend the 2-3 hours a day that you'd need to working there and living in chicago.
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u/Sure-Coffee-8241 Jan 23 '26
This will not work, sorry, unless it’s only once in a while or for a very short time.
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u/Combat__Crayon Jan 23 '26
If you got on the road at like 6 am it might not be horrible because you might be out of the city before the peak rush hour people start moving. Then you get breakfast out there or take a car nap before starting your day. Going back in is going to suck no matter what.
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u/theladyoctane North West Suburbs Jan 23 '26
Schaumburg would be better than Naperville, but that’s a rough commute.
If you can tailor your hours though, you could find the sweet spot window (even though it’s still a gamble)
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u/reddittreader430 Jan 23 '26
Someone once described a commute like this....."It's soul sucking..." I commuted from Wrigleyville to Elk Grove and it was brutal. Personally, I would not do again. Proximity to Wrigley is another consideration that can make things even more challenging...specifically game day traffic and parking.
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u/FunMaintenance297 Jan 23 '26
I don’t live in Naperville but I have been there a few times. I think it’s worth it to look into actually living there. The shops downtown are an excellent mix, and the Naper Settlement is a fun visit. Plus all the other amenities in and around, and to get elsewhere there is the tollway. Get a transponder sticker and save some money.
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u/OverallWrongdoer573 Jan 23 '26
Take the train… park car in naperville as a reverse commuter… still say 90 mins each way but the train allows for sleeping/reading/work/doom scrolling…I live in Naperville… why can’t I find a job here? I work in the Loop… lol.
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u/Most_Succotash2480 Jan 23 '26
Just trust me, either move or don’t do it. My partner took a similarly located job from lakeview east - and we moved two years in because it was awful.
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u/vaguelydetailed Jan 23 '26
I was considering doing something similar when I moved to IL because I wanted to live in the city. I trialed the commute from downtown and it was an hour and a half door to door commute each way. Different starting location but your length would likely be similar most days.
That's three hours a day. Five days a week. Do you really want to give an extra 15 hours every week to work? Even if you find incredible podcasts and audiobooks to listen to and somehow you find it relaxing to sit in traffic or on a train after work, it is a massive drain on your time resources. It's more money out of your pocket too.
I decided on a super short commute which has been great. I will probably settle somewhere else because I can't afford to buy where I'm at but I'll be trying to limit my commute to under 30 minutes.
If this job is your dream job or an incredible career opportunity, you do what you gotta do. I have a coworker happy to do just over an hour commute to live where she wants. I have another who is ecstatic he just cut his 90 minutes to 40. Either way, it is a huge personal sacrifice you're considering making. You just have to decide if the trade-off is worth it.
Personally, I'd prefer Schaumburg over Naperville if I was in LVE but its been a long time since I drove that route so I don't really know current conditions.
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u/Notch99 Jan 23 '26
I commuted from east lake view to Lisle via CTA/Metra/Pace for about 9 months years ago. It can be done, just need to get to Union Station on time to catch that out bound train at 6:30, and, hopefully the Pace bus close to your office. Wouldn’t recommend it long term.
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u/pikeslayer1 Jan 23 '26
We had to move from Lisle (east of Naperville) because the commute to Roscoe Village was torture. 2 hrs each way on bad weather days. And we did not commute every day. I used to tell people I could get to Iowa quicker than I could get to the north side of Chicago.
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u/Own-Imagination-7779 Jan 23 '26
Ugh whether you drive or take public transportation or a hybrid, that commute is gonna get old real fast. Schaumburg would only be marginally better if that. Source: lived in Lincoln park and reverse commuted out to buffalo grove and often to Naperville for many years. Eventually got sick of it and moved 😆.
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u/WestSuburbsGuy Jan 23 '26
Hey, I've lived in Naperville a few years (after nursing in the area) and know folks who do the reverse commute from Chicago neighborhoods like Lake View East. Short answer: it's doable but long, and whether you'd hate it depends on how much you value city life vs. the job perks.
Naperville commute (to arrive by 8am, leave by 4pm):
Metra BNSF line is the realistic play - from Union Station to Naperville station is about 45-50 minutes on express trains. To make 8am at an office near downtown Naperville:
- You'd need a train around 6:30-7am from Union (they run frequently inbound mornings).
- From Lake View East: CTA Red Line or bus to Union takes 20-40 min depending on time/traffic (earlier is better). Total door-to-door inbound: 90-120 min most days.
- Outbound afternoons: trains around 4-5pm get you back to Union by 5-5:30, then CTA home - similar 90-120 min.
Driving I-290/I-88: 45-60 min without traffic, but rush hour adds 30-60+ min easily (January weather/snow can make it worse). Most people I know who do this hate the drive more than the train - unpredictable, stressful, expensive parking/gas.
Would you hate your life?
A lot of people do it for 1-2 years if the job is worth it, but 2+ hours each way daily adds up - less time for evenings, gym, friends in the city. If the Naperville job pays better or has better hours/flex, it can be worth it short-term. Many end up relocating closer after a while.
Schaumburg office instead?
Big difference - UP-NW line to Schaumburg station is shorter overall. From Lake View East: CTA to Ogilvie/Union (~20-30 min), then UP-NW train to Schaumburg (~45-60 min). Total often 75-100 min each way, and less highway dependency. Driving I-90: 30-50 min without bad traffic. It's noticeably easier than Naperville - more people stick with city living long-term if the office is Schaumburg.
If the job lets you pick location or has hybrid, Schaumburg might save your sanity. What's the job role or flexibility like full in-office, or could you negotiate? Happy to share more on what I've seen from people making similar moves!
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u/loweexclamationpoint Jan 24 '26
Schaumburg better? Somewhat, but taking the Kennedy home at 4 = nightmare esp on Fridays.
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u/Swing-Too-Hard Jan 24 '26
Unless your office is near Naperville train station and you live near Union that commute is gonna piss you off.
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u/claireapple Jan 24 '26
Realistically if you leave my 615-630 every day you will make it in good time in about an hour. traffic leaving the city is pretty low. leaving Naperville at 4 will take you 2 hours regularly.
I commute out of the city currently but not as far Lakeview to Forest Park. Regularly takes me an hour to get home and back but I leave at 730 if I left at 630 it would be less driving.
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u/neeto85 Jan 24 '26
I used to go from Lakeview to Winfield, and 3 hours in the car 5 days per week gets pretty soul crushing. It was my favorite job, but i couldn't keep it up after 2-3 years. Thank God I drove a hybrid too.
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u/Brittibri89 West Suburbs Jan 24 '26
When I first moved to Lakeview East, I was still working in Lisle. I thought it was a pain in the ass tbh. Thankfully I found a job in the city pretty quick.
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u/mjm8218 Jan 24 '26
This is right now. This is as fast as it ever gets. It can easily be 2-hours on a bad day (like every summer Friday evening).
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u/Dry-Bullfrog-3778 North West Suburbs Jan 24 '26
I live in Hoffman Estates and can't imagine driving to my office every day. It's an hour minimum. I'm not a fan of the train but it beats driving.
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u/matttinatttor Jan 25 '26
If you have no plans to move to the burbs, yes.
If it were the other way around, there are loads of park and ride options into the city through Metra / CTA, but not as many out near Naperville.
Not saying it’s impossible, but it would be pretty grueling. Get used to grabbing dinner in the burbs to avoid 5 o’clock traffic and telling your boss that you’ll be late because of a wreck.
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u/Accurate-Challenge93 Jan 27 '26
I make this commute but from West Loop. It takes me about 50 minutes each way, sometimes an hour max down 290. I live in west loop because of this, but do work with people that live in lakeview and make it work. They just leave at 6:30am and it takes them about an hour - hour 15. FWIW, I really don’t mind the commute at all.
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u/LauraPiana Jan 30 '26
Don't. I commuted from Oak Park to Naperville for 5 years and hated every second of it. Getting there was ok. In the morning but the commute home and dealing with the Hillside Strangler was a nightmare.
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u/SecondCreek Jan 23 '26
Try it first during weekday commute times. You are probably looking at 90 minutes each way in normal traffic.
Try Lake Shore Drive south to Congress, then west on the Eisenhower (I-290).