Origin
Elgin, IL
Late night in Elgin on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elgin, IL to Gilmer, 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
37m
Distance
22.2 mi
36 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Gilmer, IL
Pho Tomass
Trip Overview
Elgin, IL to Gilmer, IL is 22.2 miles and takes about 37 minutes via New Sutton Road and Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically Illinois, offering a straightforward local journey. Its quick duration makes it ideal for a quick errand, a brief scenic detour, or as part of a larger trip without consuming significant time. Plan for a route that involves frequent turns rather than long, open highway stretches.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Sutton Road | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 2.7 mi | 2m |
| Midlothian Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| North Hough Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Dundee Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| West Main Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| South Hough Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Dundee Road | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
New Sutton Road
— 5.3 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin, IL and Gilmer, IL.
1
Start on East Chicago Street
34 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Chicago Street
2
Turn left onto Center Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Center Street
3
Continue on Dundee Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Dundee Avenue
4
Turn right onto IL 25
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Page Avenue
5
Turn straight onto IL 25
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Liberty Street
6
Continue on IL 25
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Dundee Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 90 Toll West, I 90 Toll East: Rockford, Chicago
8
Continue on this road
486 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
Toward I 90 West, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 90 Toll East: Chicago
10
Merge onto I 90
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 59
Toward IL 59
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto IL 59
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
New Sutton Road
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on IL 59; IL 68
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Dundee Road
14
Continue on IL 59
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
New Sutton Road
15
Continue on South Hough Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Hough Street
16
Continue on IL 59
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Hough Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto IL 22
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Route 22
18
Continue on IL 22
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
19
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
20
Turn left onto Church Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
21
Continue on Midlothian Road
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Midlothian Road
22
Turn right onto V76
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Gilmer Road
23
Arrive at destination
V76
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 5.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Center Street
Turn left onto Center Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 Toll West, I 90 Toll East: Rockford, Chicago
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 Toll West, I 90 Toll East: Rockford...
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 Toll East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 Toll East: Chicago
7
5.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward IL 59
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 59
Toward IL 59
5
5.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
IL 59 / New Sutton Road
Turn left onto IL 59 / New Sutton Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.47 one way
$6.94 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.81 | $7.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.27 | $8.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.90 | $9.80 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.19
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(2.7 mi)
$0.19
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.33 | $1.07 |
| Efficient EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.94 | $0.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.11 | $1.42 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Gilmer, IL
Late night in Gilmer on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
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
19 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
37m 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 route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating a series of intersections and changes in direction. With only a 5% highway share, most of your time will be spent on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 5.3 miles along New Sutton Road, offering a brief period of more consistent driving before more turns are introduced. Expect a dynamic driving experience that requires constant attention to navigation and road signs.
Only 5% 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: 5.3 mi on New Sutton Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
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 early in the drive near Center Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 22.2 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: near the start (Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
On the drive from Elgin, IL to Gilmer, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Chicago
2.2 mi in
|
~4m
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Gilmer, IL
Full guide →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 37m. Total distance: 22.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.3 miles on New Sutton Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.19 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.
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 Gilmer, 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: near the start (Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gilmer, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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