Origin
Marengo, IL
Morning in Marengo on Tuesday
Local time
7:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marengo, IL to Elgin, 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
33m
Distance
24.5 mi
39 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marengo, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 24.5-mile drive from Marengo to Elgin, Illinois, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 33 minutes, making it perfect for a single-day excursion. The route primarily utilizes local roads like East Grant Highway and North State Street, with a brief segment on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, though the highway share is zero. You can expect a fuel cost of around $4 for this journey. Given its short distance and duration, it's an ideal one-day adventure without the need for an overnight stay. This drive stays within the Midwest region, offering a straightforward local experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| East Grant Highway | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| North State Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| U.S. Grant Memorial Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Chicago Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South State Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 12.2 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marengo, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on IL 23
108 ft
·
7 sec
·
South State Street
2
Turn left onto US 20
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Grant Highway
3
Enter roundabout onto US 20
110 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Grant Highway
4
Continue on US 20
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Grant Highway
5
Enter roundabout onto US 20
114 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grant Highway
6
Continue on US 20
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Grant Highway
7
Continue on US 20
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 90 Toll West, I 90 Toll East: Chicago, Rockford
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 90 Toll East: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 90
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 54A
Toward IL 31 South
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto IL 31
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North State Street
13
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Chicago Street
14
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 4.4 and 21.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 20 / East Grant Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 20 / East Grant Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
7.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 20 / East Grant Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 20 / East Grant Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
9.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 Toll East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Toll East: Chicago
5
9.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
21.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward IL 31 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 54A
Toward IL 31 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.83 one way
$7.66 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.21 | $8.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.71 | $9.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.41 | $10.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.85
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(12.2 mi)
$0.85
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.57 | $1.18 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Elgin, IL
Morning in Elgin on Tuesday
Local time
7:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
19 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
33m 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?
Expect a drive with a turn-heavy local feel rather than an open highway cruise. While you'll briefly touch the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, the majority of this 24.5-mile trip involves navigating local roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 12.2 miles on the tollway. This means you'll be experiencing a more varied road experience, with more frequent turns and changes in scenery as you move through towns and local communities.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.2 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in near US 20 / East Grant Highway.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 24.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 4.4 miles (US 20 / East Grant Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.7 miles (US 20 / East Grant Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Marengo, IL to Elgin, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rockford along the way.
Rockford
8.8 mi in
|
~12m
About the Cities
Arriving in Elgin, IL
Full guide →Founded 1854
Elgin is a city in Chicagoland known for its Victorian architecture and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.
Top landmarks
- • Elgin Tower Building — building in Illinois, United States
- • Elgin Downtown Commercial District
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 33m. Total distance: 24.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.2 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.85 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial 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 Elgin, 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 4.4 miles (US 20 / East Grant Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.7 miles (US 20 / East Grant Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elgin, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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