Origin
Lakemoor, IL
Late night in Lakemoor on Tuesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakemoor, IL to Elmhurst, 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
55m
Distance
38.9 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakemoor, IL
Lars H Knudsen
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 38.9-mile drive from Lakemoor, IL, to Elmhurst, IL, will take you about 55 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With 91% of the journey on highways, expect a quick and efficient commute through the Midwest. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $6, so you won't need to budget much for gas. This route is designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss, offering a direct connection within Illinois. Given its short duration and highway focus, it's best tackled in one go without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| IL 53 | 11.3 mi | 14m |
| I 290 | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| West Belvidere Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| North York Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Addison Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Park Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 17.3 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakemoor, IL and Elmhurst, IL.
1
Start on IL 120
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Belvidere Road
Use the right lane.
2
Turn right onto US 12; IL 59
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
4
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
5
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
6
Continue on US 12; IL 59
14 mi
·
20 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward IL 53 South
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto IL 53
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
IL 53
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
I 290
Toward I 290 East: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 12
Toward York Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto North York Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North York Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
335 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 2nd Street
Use the right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto West 2nd Street
127 ft
·
8 sec
·
West 2nd Street
15
At end of road, turn left onto North Addison Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Addison Avenue
16
Turn right onto Cottage Hill Avenue
230 ft
·
13 sec
·
Cottage Hill Avenue
17
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Park Avenue
18
Turn sharp left
65 ft
·
4 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.4 miles from Lakemoor, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 37.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 12; IL 59
Turn right onto US 12; IL 59
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
19.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the ramp toward IL 53 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 53 South
8
23.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
7
30.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
I 290
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290 toward I 290 East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago
7
37.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward York Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12
Toward York Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.08 one way
$12.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.68 | $13.35 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.49 | $14.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.59 | $17.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.08 | $1.87 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.45 | $2.49 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Elmhurst, IL
Late night in Elmhurst on Tuesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Areas Of Fog
E 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:40PM CDT until April 18 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:40PM CDT until April 18 at 9:15AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
13 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
55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this trip, with 91% of the drive taking place on major roads. You'll primarily be navigating US 12, IL 53, and I 290, which means consistent speeds and limited traffic signals for significant portions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.3 miles on US 12, allowing for a good period of steady driving. This isn't a route for leisurely sightseeing; its character is defined by efficiency and directness, moving you swiftly across the landscape.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.3 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and IL 53. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near US 12; IL 59.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 38.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (US 12; IL 59): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.8 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving 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 55m. Total distance: 38.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.3 miles on US 12. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Elmhurst, 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 1.8 miles (US 12; IL 59): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.8 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Elmhurst, 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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