This 101.7-mile drive from Chatsworth, IL to Elgin, IL is a straightforward, one-day trip. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 34 minutes on the road, navigating a route that's mostly local roads with some highway travel. With a projected fuel cost of around $16 and only one recommended stop, this journey is designed for efficiency. The Midwest scenery provides a familiar backdrop as you traverse Illinois. This route is well-suited for a single day, allowing ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
50.9 miles from Chatsworth, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Union Street
34.5 mi
43m
North 2700 East Road
22.1 mi
35m
Orchard Road
11.2 mi
18m
South Randall Road
10.5 mi
17m
IL 31
6.1 mi
11m
Minkler Road
4.3 mi
6m
Ashley Road
2.8 mi
3m
East 825 North Road
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
South Union Street
— 34.5 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chatsworth, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on 4th Street
274 ft·14 sec·4th Street
2
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
1.0 mi·2 min·East Walnut Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 24
0.3 mi·21 sec·East 800 N Road
4
Continue on US 24
2.0 mi·2 min·East 830 North Road
5
Continue on US 24
2.7 mi·3 min·East 825 North Road
6
Continue on US 24
0.3 mi·47 sec·East Wabash Street
7
Turn right onto IL 47
0.8 mi·1 min·South Center Street
8
Continue on IL 47
22 mi·35 min·North 2700 East Road
9
Continue on IL 47
35 mi·43 min·South Union Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto Walker Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Walker Road
11
Turn left onto Ashley Road
2.8 mi·3 min·Ashley Road
12
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126
0.5 mi·46 sec·East Schoolhouse Road
13
Turn left onto Minkler Road
3.4 mi·4 min·Minkler Road
14
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
126 ft·3 sec·Minkler Road
15
Continue on Minkler Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Minkler Road
16
Continue on Orchard Road
11 mi·18 min·Orchard Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto CR 34
10 mi·17 min·South Randall Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto CR 5
1.0 mi·1 min·Silver Glen Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto IL 31
6.1 mi·11 min·IL 31
20
Turn right onto East Chicago Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·East Chicago Street
21
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration and manageable distance, you have flexibility in planning your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to reach Elgin with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can easily cover the 101.7 miles without needing to break up the journey. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $16, and plan your fill-up accordingly. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to your GPS, especially when transitioning onto Orchard Road, as the 'turn-heavy' nature means frequent adjustments are necessary.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 50.9 miles from Chatsworth, IL, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 22 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.9 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elgin, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chatsworth, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chatsworth, IL
This is one driving day of about 101.7 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Chatsworth, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on South Union Street for about 34.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 95.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Walnut Street
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
68 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
Navigation decision point
5
71.8 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|Minkler Road
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
83.9 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|CR 34 / South Randall Road
Turn left onto CR 34 / South Randall Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
95.3 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|IL 31
At end of road, turn left onto IL 31
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.90 one way
$31.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.46
$34.91
premium
$4.89
$19.57
$39.14
diesel
$5.61
$22.45
$44.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.5
0
$10.68
$4.88
Efficient EV
25.4
0
$8.90
$4.07
EV Truck/SUV
40.7
0
$14.24
$6.51
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Chatsworth, IL
Late night
in Chatsworth on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elgin, IL
Late night
in Elgin on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 34m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with a highway share of only 6%. You'll experience a dynamic driving experience, frequently transitioning between different local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 34.5 miles on South Union Street, offering a brief period of consistent travel before more turns. Be prepared for a varied road surface and speed, as you'll be navigating through various local communities rather than a continuous highway.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.5 mi on South Union Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Walnut Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 34m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 68 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 71.8 miles (Minkler Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The longest stretch is about 34.5 miles on South Union Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 68 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 71.8 miles (Minkler Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elgin, IL before heading back.
