Elgin to Hometown is 42.3 miles and takes about 1h 4m via Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. The drive primarily utilizes surface roads after a brief section on the Tri-State Tollway. Given its short distance and duration, it's a straightforward option for a quick trip without needing an overnight stay. Consider this route if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within the region.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tri-State Tollway
13.1 mi
17m
West Lake Street
10.3 mi
15m
Lake Street
6.7 mi
10m
US 20
3.1 mi
4m
Villa Street
2.4 mi
3m
West 95th Street
2 mi
4m
West 93rd Street
1.2 mi
1m
Mile-Long Bridge
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 13.1 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin, IL and Hometown, IL.
1
Start on East Chicago Street
34 ft·5 sec·East Chicago Street
2
Turn right onto Villa Street
2.4 mi·3 min·Villa Street
3
Merge onto US 20
0.3 mi·29 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
4
Continue on US 20
5.2 mi·6 min·West Lake Street
5
Continue on US 20
6.7 mi·10 min·Lake Street
6
Continue on US 20
5.1 mi·8 min·West Lake Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
7
Take the ramp onto US 20
3.1 mi·4 min·US 20
Toward I 290 East, US 20 East: ChicagoUse the left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 15AToward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, IndianaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 294
0.4 mi·47 sec·Tri-State Tollway
Exit 15AToward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
1.0 mi·2 min·Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
11
Merge onto I 294
137 ft·1 sec·Tri-State Tollway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
4.8 mi·5 min·Tri-State Tollway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
3.5 mi·4 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 294
0.9 mi·1 min·Mile-Long Bridge
15
Continue on I 294
3.4 mi·4 min·Tri-State Tollway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 17AToward US 12 East, US 20 East: 95th Street, 76th AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward US 12, US 20 East: 95th StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto US 12; US 20
2.0 mi·4 min·West 95th Street
19
Turn left onto Southwest Highway
0.3 mi·30 sec·Southwest Highway
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on West 93rd Street
1.2 mi·1 min·West 93rd Street
21
Turn left onto IL 50
0.8 mi·1 min·South Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto West 87th Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·West 87th Street
23
Turn right onto South Kostner Avenue
33 ft·8 sec·South Kostner Avenue
24
Turn left onto West 87th Street
57 ft·2 sec·West 87th Street
25
Arrive at destination
West 87th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 21.1 miles from Elgin, 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.7 and 37.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
19.7 mi into trip|~30m in|US 20
Take the ramp onto US 20 toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago
8
22.8 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
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 15A
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
6
23.5 mi into trip|~36m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
37.1 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the exit toward US 12 East, US 20 East: 95th Street, 76th Avenue
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 17A
Toward US 12 East, US 20 East: 95th Street, 76t...
9
37.3 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 12, US 20 East: 95th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 12, US 20 East: 95th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.56 one way
$13.12 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg15 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$7.19
$14.38
premium
$4.93
$8.21
$16.41
diesel
$5.60
$9.32
$18.65
Estimated Tolls: $0.78
Tri-state Tollway
(13.1 mi)$0.78
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
12.7
0
$4.44
$2.03
Efficient EV
10.6
0
$3.70
$1.69
EV Truck/SUV
16.9
0
$5.92
$2.71
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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 Aug 29, 2026
Origin
Elgin, IL
Morning
in Elgin on Friday
Local time
8:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
SSW 5 to 10 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 6:10AM CDT until August 29 at 6:32PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 28 at 8:36PM CDT until August 30 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
Destination
Hometown, IL
Morning
in Hometown on Friday
Local time
8:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
SSW 5 to 10 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 29 at 6:10AM CDT until August 29 at 6:32PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 28 at 8:36PM CDT until August 30 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN
85°F
Elmhurst, IL
21 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 4m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only about 7% spent on the Tri-State Tollway. You'll encounter your longest stretch of highway at 13.1 miles on the Tri-State Tollway before transitioning to West Lake Street and Lake Street. Expect a more urban or suburban driving feel as you navigate through local streets. The frequent exits and intersections on the latter half of the drive will require your attention.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.1 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 19.7 miles in near US 20.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.3 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 19.7 miles (US 20): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
805 ft601 ft
Total Climb
134 ft
Total Descent
252 ft
Highest Point
805 ft
~3 mi in
Elevation Range
204 ft
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 Hometown, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 42.3 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.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.1 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.78 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 Hometown, 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 19.7 miles (US 20): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 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 Hometown, IL before heading back.
