Origin
Elgin, IL
Late night in Elgin on Tuesday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elgin, IL to North Lawndale, 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
52m
Distance
34.4 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
North Lawndale, IL
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
Elgin to North Lawndale is 34.4 miles and takes about 52 minutes via US 20, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Illinois, offering a straightforward journey. The route is primarily a mixed drive, meaning you'll encounter both highway and local road conditions. Given its relatively short distance and duration, it's ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Consider this a practical transit between two points in the greater Chicagoland area.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 12.3 mi | 17m |
| West Lake Street | 10.3 mi | 15m |
| Lake Street | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| Villa Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| West Roosevelt Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Pulaski Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Cicero Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 15th Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 12.3 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin, IL and North Lawndale, 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
12 mi
·
17 min
·
US 20
Toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 24B
Toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto West Lexington Street
302 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Lexington Street
10
Turn right onto IL 50
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto West Roosevelt Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Roosevelt Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto South Pulaski Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
South Pulaski Road
13
Turn left onto West 15th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West 15th Street
14
Turn right
269 ft
·
19 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.2 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Villa Street
Turn right onto Villa Street
Navigation decision point
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
7
32.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 24B
Toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue
5
32.3 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue
Turn right onto IL 50 / South Cicero Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
32.6 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
West Roosevelt Road
Turn left onto West Roosevelt Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.38 one way
$10.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.90 | $11.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.62 | $13.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.60 | $15.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
North Lawndale, IL
Late night in North Lawndale on Tuesday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
15 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
52m 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 34.4-mile drive presents a mixed profile, with about 36% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a 12.3-mile stretch on US 20, which offers a more consistent pace. As you transition from US 20 to West Lake Street and then Lake Street, expect the character of the drive to evolve. The latter parts of the route will likely involve navigating more urban environments, potentially with increased traffic and more varied speed limits. It's a drive that balances open road segments with more intricate local road navigation.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Villa Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 34.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 (Villa Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.7 miles (US 20): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
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 52m. Total distance: 34.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (Villa Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.7 miles (US 20): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 North Lawndale, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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