Origin
North Chicago, IL
Late night in North Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Chicago, 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
1h 3m
Distance
46.1 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 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Chicago, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from North Chicago to Elgin, you are planning a straightforward 45.9-mile journey across the Midwest. Expect the drive to take approximately 58 minutes under normal traffic conditions. Because this is a relatively short trip, it works perfectly as a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You can anticipate a fuel budget of about $7 for the entire route. Since the drive relies entirely on local roads rather than interstates, it offers a more grounded, community-focused experience compared to typical highway travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 14.5 mi | 16m |
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| Palatine Road | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| IL 53 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Buckley Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| Dundee Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| Bobby E. Thompson Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Algonquin Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 14.5 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Chicago, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on Fellows Place
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Fellows Place
2
Turn right onto 18th Street
155 ft
·
10 sec
·
18th Street
3
Turn right onto IL 137
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
Sheridan Road
4
Continue on IL 137
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Bobby E. Thompson Expressway
5
Turn right onto IL 137
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Buckley Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 94 Toll East: Chicago
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 94
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 48
Toward Willow Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 48
11
Turn right onto Willow Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Willow Road
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on Palatine Road
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Palatine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward IL 53 South
14
Merge onto IL 53
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 53
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
IL 53
Toward I 90 Toll: Rockford, Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward IL 62: Algonquin Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto IL 62
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Algonquin Road
18
Turn left onto North Meacham Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Meacham Road
Use the left lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Use the right lane.
20
Merge onto I 90
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
504 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
Use the slight right lane.
22
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
23
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
this road
24
Turn left onto IL 25
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Dundee Avenue
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on Center Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Center Street
26
Turn right
311 ft
·
28 sec
27
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
117 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Chicago Street
28
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
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 North Chicago, 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 16 and 43.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
16 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
7
19.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward Willow Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 48
Toward Willow Road
8
30.3 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 53 toward I 90 Toll: Rockford, Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Toll: Rockford, Chicago
7
32.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
7
43.2 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward IL 25
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.21 one way
$14.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.91 | $15.83 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.87 | $17.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.59
Tri-state Tollway
(14.5 mi)
$0.87
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(10.3 mi)
$0.72
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 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
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
Elgin, IL
Late night in Elgin on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 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
4 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 3m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route utilizes 18th Street, Sheridan Road, and Bobby E to navigate the region. With a 0% highway share, you will not encounter any high-speed stretches; in fact, the longest stretch on 18th Street is essentially non-existent. The road's personality is defined by frequent turns and local navigation, requiring you to stay alert through every intersection. Expect a steady, hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local connectivity over rapid transit.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.5 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 16 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 16 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between North Chicago, IL and Elgin, IL, road signs point toward O'hare and Chicago.
O'hare
16 mi in
|
~20m
|
via I 294
Chicago
30.3 mi in
|
~41m
|
via IL 53
About the Cities
Starting in North Chicago, IL
Full guide →North Chicago is a suburb in Chicagoland.
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 1h 3m. Total distance: 46.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m 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 14.5 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.59 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 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 16 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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