Elk Grove, IL to Metamora, IL is 147.8 miles and takes about 3h 7m via I 80, I 39, and Adlai Stevenson Expressway, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traveling through the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively quick trip between these two points. With a single day recommended, you can expect to cover the distance without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.9 miles from Elk Grove, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
47.2 mi
50m
I 39
36.4 mi
39m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
23.5 mi
29m
Kingery Highway
13.3 mi
21m
County Road 1400 North
6.1 mi
10m
County Road 1800 North
5.5 mi
9m
State Route 116
3.9 mi
5m
Busse Road
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 47.2 mi, about 50m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~992 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,265
Quietest
2 AM
~149 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elk Grove, IL and Metamora, IL.
1
Start on South Elmhurst Road
1.0 mi·1 min·South Elmhurst Road
2
Turn right onto Devon Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·Devon Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto IL 83
2.1 mi·3 min·Busse Road
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on IL 83
2.0 mi·3 min·Kingery Highway
5
Continue on IL 83
1.9 mi·2 min·Robert Kingery Highway
Toward IL 83 South: Kingery HighwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on IL 83
11 mi·17 min·Kingery Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 South: JolietUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 55
23 mi·29 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 250BToward I 80 West: IowaUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 80
47 mi·50 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 79AToward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
12
Merge onto I 39; US 51
36 mi·39 min·I 39; US 51
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward IL 116: Metamora, Flanagan
14
Turn right onto IL 116
5.5 mi·9 min·County Road 1800 North
15
Turn left onto IL 116; IL 117
1.3 mi·2 min·County Road 2100 E
16
Turn straight onto IL 116; IL 117
3.3 mi·5 min·County Road 1400 North
17
Continue on IL 116; IL 117
0.9 mi·1 min·East Husseman Street
18
Continue on IL 116; IL 117
1.0 mi·1 min·West Front Street
19
Continue on IL 116; IL 117
2.8 mi·4 min·County Road 1400 North
20
Continue on IL 116
3.9 mi·5 min·State Route 116
21
Continue on IL 116
0.6 mi·1 min·East Mount Vernon Street
22
Turn right onto IL 89
29 ft·0 sec·North Niles Street
23
Arrive at destination
IL 89
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. You'll only need one planned stop, so consider a break around the halfway point or a bit before you transition off the main highways. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $23 budget suggests efficient travel, but it's always wise to top off before heading out. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, be aware that highway speeds can be affected by traffic, especially closer to the Chicago metropolitan area early in your drive.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.9 miles from Elk Grove, IL, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 33 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.9 miles or 1h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Metamora, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elk Grove, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elk Grove, IL
This is one driving day of about 147.8 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Elk Grove, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 47.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 91.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip|~1m in|Devon Avenue
Turn right onto Devon Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
19.3 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Joliet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Joliet
5
19.9 mi into trip|~32m in|I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge onto I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
43.3 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 250B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
6
91.3 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 79A
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomin...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.55 one way
$45.10 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$24.84
$49.67
premium
$4.81
$27.97
$55.93
diesel
$5.40
$31.44
$62.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.3
0
$15.52
$7.09
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.93
$5.91
EV Truck/SUV
59.1
0
$20.69
$9.46
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Elk Grove, IL
Late night
in Elk Grove on Sunday
Local time
1:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog
NE 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 7:32PM CDT until April 30 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 7:32PM CDT until May 2 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Metamora, IL
Late night
in Metamora on Sunday
Local time
1:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 7m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 20.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 75% highway, so expect to spend most of your time on I 80 and I 39. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 47.2 miles on I 80. You'll transition from highway cruising onto surface roads as you approach Metamora. Be ready for a change in traffic patterns and exit density as you move from the interstate system to local roads.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 39. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Devon Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 147.8 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 1 miles (Devon Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elk Grove, IL and Metamora, IL, road signs point toward Bloomington and Flanagan.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 7m. Total distance: 147.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.2 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Metamora, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Devon Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 55 / Adlai Stevenson Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Metamora, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
