Origin
Elmhurst, IL
Late night in Elmhurst on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, IL to Lake Villa, 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
1h 2m
Distance
46 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Lake Villa, IL
Lovedeep Singh
Trip Overview
Elmhurst, IL to Lake Villa, IL is 46 miles and takes about 1 hour 2 minutes via Tri-State Tollway and Grand Avenue, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, offering a straightforward trip between suburban areas. Expect a local feel for much of this route, which can be a nice change of pace from longer highway journeys. It's a manageable distance, perfect for a day trip or an easy leg of a larger adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 35.4 mi | 43m |
| Grand Avenue | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| East North Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North York Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| US 20 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Milwaukee Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Park Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 35.4 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, IL and Lake Villa, IL.
1
Start on this road
267 ft
·
25 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
51 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
362 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Park Avenue
4
Turn left onto North York Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North York Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto IL 64
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East North Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn slight right onto US 20
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 20
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 294
35 mi
·
43 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 8B-A
Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
this road
Exit 8
Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
12
Keep slight right at fork
289 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 8A
Toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
this road
Exit 8A
Toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
14
Turn straight onto IL 132
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto IL 83
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
16
Turn right
64 ft
·
3 sec
17
Turn right
115 ft
·
5 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23 miles from Elmhurst, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 38.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North York Street
Turn left onto North York Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
7
37.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B-A
Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
7
37.8 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
9
38.2 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 8A
Toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.19 one way
$14.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.90 | $15.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.85 | $17.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.16 | $20.31 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.12
Tri-state Tollway
(35.4 mi)
$2.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Lake Villa, IL
Late night in Lake Villa on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
3 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
1h 2m 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 journey is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with a highway share of 0%, meaning you'll primarily navigate surface streets and main roads. While there's a longest stretch of 35.4 miles on the Tri-State Tollway, the overall profile suggests frequent intersections and changes in direction. You'll experience a more engaged driving experience, requiring your attention to traffic signals and local road conditions rather than simply cruising on an interstate. The route involves key roads like Grand Avenue and East North Avenue, contributing to its local character.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.4 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.1 miles in near North York Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (North York Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Elmhurst, IL
Full guide →Elmhurst is in Chicagoland.
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 1h 2m. Total distance: 46 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m 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 35.4 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.12 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 Lake Villa, 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 0.1 miles (North York Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 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 Lake Villa, 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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