Origin
Chicago Heights, IL
Morning in Chicago Heights on Tuesday
Local time
8:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chicago Heights, IL to Elgin, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
57.4 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago Heights, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 57.4 miles across the Illinois landscape, this trip from Chicago Heights to Elgin is a straightforward journey typically taking about 1 hour and 25 minutes. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, making it an efficient trek through the Midwest. Budget approximately $9 for fuel, which keeps this excursion very affordable for a quick getaway. Because the distance is relatively short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this route provides a reliable connection between these two Illinois cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 28.4 mi | 36m |
| Lake Street | 6.7 mi | 11m |
| US 20 | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| West Lake Street | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| South Halsted Street | 5 mi | 10m |
| Villa Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| I 290 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 28.4 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago Heights, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on South Halsted Street
19 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Halsted Street
2
Continue on South Halsted Street
5.0 mi
·
10 min
·
South Halsted Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Tri-State Tollway, Iowa, Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Iowa, Wisconsin
5
Merge onto I 80; I 294
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 294
321 ft
·
7 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Exit 31
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Exit 31
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North: Rockford, Milwaukee
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 290 West: Rockford
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Saint Charles Road West
13
Merge onto I 290
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 290
14
Take the exit onto US 20
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 20
Exit 12
Toward US 20 West, IL 64 West: Lake Street, York Road
Use the right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
US 20
Toward US 20 West: Lake Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 20
5.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lake Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
17
Continue on US 20
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Street
18
Continue on US 20
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
West Lake Street
19
Continue on US 20
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
20
Turn slight left onto Villa Street
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Villa Street
Toward Villa Street
Use the slight left lane.
21
Turn left
311 ft
·
28 sec
22
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
117 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Chicago Street
23
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.7 miles from Chicago Heights, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 5 and 37.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Tri-State Tollway, Iowa, Wisconsin
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Tri-State Tollwa...
8
33.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Take the exit onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Roc...
7
33.4 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 290 West, I 294 North: Rockford, Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 31
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North: Rockford, Milwa...
8
37.3 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
US 20
Take the exit onto US 20 toward US 20 West, IL 64 West: Lake Street, York Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 12
Toward US 20 West, IL 64 West: Lake Street, Yor...
7
37.4 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
US 20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20 toward US 20 West: Lake Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 20 West: Lake Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.97 one way
$17.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.85 | $19.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.05 | $22.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.67 | $25.35 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.70
Tri-state Tollway
(28.4 mi)
$1.70
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$2
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
| Efficient EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.02 | $2.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23 | 0 | $8.04 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 Tuesday
Local time
8:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Widespread Fog
SE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
12 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
1h 25m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that transitions through various road types as you navigate toward Elgin. While you will spend about 13% of your time on highways, the experience is defined more by its local road segments than long interstate stretches. Your longest uninterrupted run is a 28.4-mile stretch along the Tri-State Tollway, which offers a brief period of steady cruising. Following that, the route shifts onto Lake Street and US 20, requiring more attention to local traffic patterns and intersections. It is not a monotonous highway grind, so stay alert as the road character shifts from fast-paced tollways to more localized driving environments.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.4 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.3 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
842 ft
600 ft
Total Climb
253 ft
Total Descent
174 ft
Highest Point
842 ft
~53.3 mi in
Elevation Range
242 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chicago Heights, IL and Elgin, IL, road signs point toward Iowa, Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Chicago and Saint Charles Road West.
Iowa
5 mi in
|
~10m
Wisconsin
5 mi in
|
~10m
Milwaukee
33.3 mi in
|
~46m
|
via I 294
Chicago
33.3 mi in
|
~46m
|
via I 294
Saint Charles Road West
35 mi in
|
~50m
About the Cities
Starting in Chicago Heights, IL
Full guide →Founded 1893
Chicago Heights is a city of 29,000 people (2019) in the Chicagoland region of Illinois. Chicago Heights remains one of the most dangerous cities in Illinois, with rampant poverty and high levels of violent crime.
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 1h 25m. Total distance: 57.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.4 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.70 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Elgin, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.3 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Elgin, IL
More trips to Elgin, IL
Explore more options from Chicago Heights, IL or browse trips ending in Elgin, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.