Origin
Belmont Cragin, IL
Morning in Belmont Cragin on Sunday
Local time
9:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Belmont Cragin, IL to Elgin, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
32.4 mi
52 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belmont Cragin, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Belmont Cragin to Elgin is 32.4 miles and takes about 46m via Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and local roads, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a route with frequent turns as you navigate local streets mixed with highway travel. With a total drive time under an hour and a modest fuel cost, this trip is ideal for a quick excursion. It's a straightforward journey perfect for a spontaneous outing.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 20.6 mi | 22m |
| West Higgins Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| West Higgins Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| North Central Avenue | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Dundee Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| Center Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West George Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Major Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 20.6 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belmont Cragin, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on this road
4 ft
·
2 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto North Major Avenue
496 ft
·
23 sec
·
North Major Avenue
3
Turn right onto West George Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
West George Street
4
Turn left onto North Central Avenue
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Central Avenue
5
Turn left onto West Higgins Avenue
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
West Higgins Avenue
6
Turn right onto IL 72
326 ft
·
18 sec
·
North Oriole Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto IL 72
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
West Higgins Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 90 Toll West
9
Merge onto I 90
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
504 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
12
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
this road
13
Turn left onto IL 25
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Dundee Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on Center Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Center Street
15
Turn right
311 ft
·
28 sec
16
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
117 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Chicago Street
17
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.2 miles from Belmont Cragin, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 29.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West George Street
Turn right onto West George Street
Navigation decision point
5
5.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
IL 72 / North Oriole Avenue
Turn right onto IL 72 / North Oriole Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
5
5.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
IL 72 / West Higgins Road
Turn left onto IL 72 / West Higgins Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
8.9 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
29.5 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward IL 25
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.07 one way
$10.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.56 | $11.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.24 | $12.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.15 | $14.31 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.44
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(20.6 mi)
$1.44
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Elgin, IL
Morning in Elgin on Sunday
Local time
9:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 10 mph
34% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:33PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:29PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
22 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
46m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, with a highway share of 0%, meaning you'll primarily be on surface streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.6 miles on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. You'll transition from navigating city-like roads to more open stretches as you progress. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with many changes in direction.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.6 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West George Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 32.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West George Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles (IL 72 / North Oriole Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles (IL 72 / West Higgins Road): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Elgin, IL
Full guide →Founded 1854
Elgin is a city in Chicagoland known for its Victorian architecture and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.
Top landmarks
- • Elgin Tower Building — building in Illinois, United States
- • Elgin Downtown Commercial District
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 32.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.6 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.44 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West George Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles (IL 72 / North Oriole Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles (IL 72 / West Higgins Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elgin, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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