Origin
Chicago, IL
Late night in Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
46.8 mi
75 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chicago, IL
Otoniel Alvarado
Sugar Grove, IL
Skyler Ewing
Chicago to Sugar Grove is 46.8 miles and takes about 1h 4m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and Eisenhower Expressway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Illinois, making it a convenient option for those looking to travel a short distance. The route primarily utilizes tollways and expressways, offering a straightforward path. It's a practical choice for a same-day excursion, requiring minimal planning and offering flexibility for departure times.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 26.9 mi | 32m |
| Eisenhower Expressway | 12.1 mi | 16m |
| IL 56 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| South Ashland Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| West Cermak Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Illinois Route 47 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Van Buren Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| United States Route 30 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and Sugar Grove, IL.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn left onto West Cermak Road
Turn right onto South Ashland Avenue
Turn left onto West Van Buren Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 56
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto IL 47
Continue on US 30; IL 47
Turn right onto Cross Street
Turn left
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.4 miles from Chicago, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 15 and 46.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 56 toward IL 56 West: Sugar Grove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 30 East, IL 47: Sugar Grove, Elburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 47 South, US 30 East: Sugar Grove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$7.32 one way
$14.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.03 | $16.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.01 | $18.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.33 | $20.67 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.61
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.55 | $3.00 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Sugar Grove on Tuesday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is a mixed highway and surface road experience, with 35% of the 46.8 miles on highways. You'll encounter your longest stretch of continuous highway at 26.9 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. Expect to transition from the high-speed environment of the tollway and expressway to surface roads as you approach your destination. The density of exits on the expressways will be noticeable as you navigate the urban and suburban landscape.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15 miles in near I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 15 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 42 miles (IL 56): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chicago, IL and Sugar Grove, IL, road signs point toward Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
Indiana
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
Chicago is the home of the blues and the truth of jazz, the heart of comedy and the idea of the skyscraper. Here, the age of railroads found its center, and airplanes followed suit. "Stormy, Husky, Brawling / City of Big Shoulders," Chicago is a Heartland boomtown, its ethos defined by urban planner Daniel Burnham's immortal vision: "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." It is one of the world's great cities and the third largest city in the United States, behind only New York City and Los Angeles. As the hub of the Midwest, Chicago is easy to find — its picturesque skyline calls across the waters of Lake Michigan, a first impression that soon reveals world-class museums of art and science, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks and public art, and perhaps the finest downtown collection of modern architecture in the world.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 46.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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