Origin
Long Lake, IL
Late night in Long Lake on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Long Lake, IL to Elmhurst, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
42.7 mi
69 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 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Lake, IL
Sean Ewing
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Long Lake, IL to Elmhurst, IL is 42.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 1 minute via US 12, IL 53, and I 290, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a quick trip for those needing to get from point A to point B efficiently. Given its short duration and highway focus, it's an ideal route for a single-day journey, allowing for minimal time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 20.6 mi | 28m |
| IL 53 | 11.3 mi | 14m |
| I 290 | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| West Big Hollow Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| North York Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Augustana Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Addison Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Park Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 20.6 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Lake, IL and Elmhurst, IL.
1
Start on North Rock Island Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Rock Island Street
2
Turn left onto North Augustana Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Augustana Avenue
3
Continue on North Augustana Avenue
177 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Augustana Avenue
4
Turn right onto IL 134
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Big Hollow Road
5
Turn left onto US 12; IL 59
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12; IL 59
6
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
8
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
9
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
10
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
11
Continue on US 12; IL 59
14 mi
·
20 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward IL 53 South
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto IL 53
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
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.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 12
Toward York Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto North York Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North York Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
335 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 2nd Street
Use the right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto West 2nd Street
127 ft
·
8 sec
·
West 2nd Street
20
At end of road, turn left onto North Addison Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Addison Avenue
21
Turn right onto Cottage Hill Avenue
230 ft
·
13 sec
·
Cottage Hill Avenue
22
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Park Avenue
23
Turn sharp left
65 ft
·
4 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from Long Lake, 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 23 and 41.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
23 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the ramp toward IL 53 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 53 South
8
27.7 mi into trip
|
~39m 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
34.7 mi into trip
|
~48m 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
41.3 mi into trip
|
~57m 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
6
41.6 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
North York Street
Turn left onto North York Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.68 one way
$13.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.33 | $14.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.22 | $16.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.43 | $18.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 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 | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.98 | $2.73 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Elmhurst, IL
Late night in Elmhurst on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
25 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 1m 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 drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 90% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll encounter stretches on US 12, IL 53, and I 290, suggesting a fast-paced journey. The longest uninterrupted segment is 20.6 miles on US 12, indicating a substantial period of consistent highway driving. Expect a consistent speed and a focus on covering distance efficiently rather than leisurely sightseeing on this route.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.6 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 23 miles in.
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 42.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 23 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 27.7 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.7 miles (I 290): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 1m. Total distance: 42.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.6 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 23 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 27.7 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.7 miles (I 290): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 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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