Origin
Crete, IL
Late night in Crete on Tuesday
Local time
4:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Crete, IL to Elmhurst, 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 2m
Distance
39.9 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Crete, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Crete, IL to Elmhurst, IL is 39.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 2 minutes via Tri-State Tollway and Dixie Highway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, taking you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The route primarily uses surface roads after an initial stretch on a tollway. It's a straightforward drive, ideal if you're looking for a quick connection between these two points without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 26.2 mi | 32m |
| Dixie Highway | 4.7 mi | 10m |
| Chicago Road | 3.4 mi | 8m |
| South York Street | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Roosevelt Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South York Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Governors Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 26.2 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crete, IL and Elmhurst, IL.
1
Start on IL 1
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto IL 1
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Vincennes Boulevard
3
Continue on IL 1
3.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Chicago Road
4
Turn left onto Dixie Highway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Dixie Highway
5
Keep slight right at fork onto Dixie Highway
2.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Dixie Highway
6
Continue on Dixie Highway
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Dixie Highway
7
Continue on Dixie Highway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Dixie Highway
8
Turn right onto Governors Highway
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Governors Highway
9
Continue on Wood Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Wood Street
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 294 North, I 80 West: Tri-State Tollway
11
Merge onto I 80; I 294
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 30B
Toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road
Use the right lane.
16
Merge onto IL 38
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Roosevelt Road
Use the right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward North York Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto South York Road
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
South York Road
19
Continue on South York Street
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
South York Street
20
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
38 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Park Avenue
21
Turn slight right
65 ft
·
4 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20 miles from Crete, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 9.8 and 37.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the ramp toward I 294 North, I 80 West: Tri-State Tollway
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 294 North, I 80 West: Tri-State Tollwa...
6
11.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
35.4 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
36.3 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 30B
Toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road
6
37.1 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward North York Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward North York Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.24 one way
$12.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.85 | $13.70 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.68 | $15.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.81 | $17.62 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.57
Tri-state Tollway
(26.2 mi)
$1.57
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.19 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.49 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.59 | $2.55 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Elmhurst, IL
Late night in Elmhurst on Tuesday
Local time
4:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Burbank, IL
20 mi in
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
1 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
1h 2m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This 39.9-mile drive has a highway share of 0%, meaning you'll primarily be on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single major road is 26.2 miles on the Tri-State Tollway. After leaving the tollway, expect more frequent intersections and traffic lights typical of driving through developed areas. You'll notice the transition from open road to more urban driving patterns.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.2 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 9.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 39.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 9.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
733 ft
599 ft
Total Climb
98 ft
Total Descent
144 ft
Highest Point
733 ft
Elevation Range
135 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Crete, IL
Full guide →Founded 1836
Arriving in Elmhurst, IL
Full guide →Elmhurst is in Chicagoland.
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 2m. Total distance: 39.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m 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 26.2 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.57 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 Elmhurst, 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 9.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.4 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Elmhurst, 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.
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