Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 29m
Distance
125.5 mi
202 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elk Grove, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Morrison, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Elk Grove, IL to Morrison, IL is 125.5 miles and takes about 2h 29m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. The route primarily uses the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway before transitioning to surface roads for the final stretch. It's a straightforward drive, suitable for a single-day excursion with minimal planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.8 miles from Elk Grove, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 95.3 mi | 1h 45m |
| Lincoln Road | 9 mi | 12m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| York Road | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| US 20 | 3 mi | 4m |
| East Lincoln Way | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North York Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South Elmhurst Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Elk Grove, IL and Morrison, IL.
Start on South Elmhurst Road
Continue on York Road
Continue on North York Street
Turn right onto Lake Street
Turn slight right
Take the ramp onto US 20
Take the exit
Continue on I 294
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
Continue on I 88; IL 110
Continue on I 88; IL 110
Take the exit
Continue on Lincoln Road
Continue on US 30
Turn right onto North Cherry Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 2h 29m duration, leaving Elk Grove, IL in the morning allows ample time to reach Morrison, IL comfortably. While there are no designated stops listed, the relatively short distance means you can easily break up the drive with a quick stop for fuel or a snack if needed, especially before transitioning off the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you near the end of the 95.3-mile tollway segment, as services might be less frequent on the subsequent surface roads. The $20 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 28 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.8 miles or 1h 18m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morrison, IL than in the middle of the route.
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 125.5 miles and 2h 29m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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.
A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 62.8 miles from Elk Grove, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.8 and 36.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$19.62 one way
$39.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.54 | $43.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.15 | $48.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.71 | $55.42 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.18 | $6.02 |
| Efficient EV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.98 | $5.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.2 | 0 | $17.57 | $8.03 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Elk Grove on Tuesday
Local time
7:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Morrison on Tuesday
Local time
7:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
65°F
Aurora, IL
63 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
You'll spend a significant portion of your drive on major highways, with 50% of the route on roads like the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The longest continuous stretch on this tollway is 95.3 miles. After this, the profile shifts to mostly surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect a transition from high-speed highway cruising to more localized traffic as you approach your destination.
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 6.8 miles in near US 20.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 125.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.8 miles (US 20): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
285 ft
Total Descent
275 ft
Highest Point
880 ft
~62.8 mi in
Elevation Range
222 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elk Grove, IL and Morrison, IL, road signs point toward Indiana, 22Nd Street (Cermak Road), Rock Falls and Sterling.
Indiana
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
Rock Falls
Sterling
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 125.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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