Origin
Portage Park, IL
Late night in Portage Park on Sunday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portage Park, IL to Crystal Lake, 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
40.6 mi
65 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 57m
★
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.
Portage Park, IL
Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
Crystal Lake, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Portage Park, IL to Crystal Lake, IL is 40.6 miles and takes about 1h 1m via Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from one part of the Midwest to another. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns, characteristic of local road travel, rather than long stretches of highway. With a recommended one-day duration and minimal fuel cost, this route is a straightforward option for a short journey between these two Illinois locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 17 mi | 18m |
| Algonquin Road | 7.8 mi | 13m |
| New Sutton Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| West Higgins Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Pyott Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| West Higgins Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| South Main Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| North Central Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 17 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portage Park, IL and Crystal Lake, IL.
1
Start on West Hutchinson Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Hutchinson Street
2
Turn right onto North Central Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto West Higgins Avenue
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
West Higgins Avenue
4
Turn right onto IL 72
326 ft
·
18 sec
·
North Oriole Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto IL 72
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
West Higgins Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 90 Toll West
7
Merge onto I 90
17 mi
·
18 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 59
Toward IL 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto IL 59
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
New Sutton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn sharp left onto IL 62; IL 68
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Dundee Road
Use the left lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 62
7.8 mi
·
13 min
·
Algonquin Road
12
Turn right onto V32
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Pyott Road
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on South Main Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
14
Turn left onto East Crystal Lake Avenue
25 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Crystal Lake Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
East Crystal Lake Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Portage Park, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 27.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
IL 72 / North Oriole Avenue
Turn right onto IL 72 / North Oriole Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
IL 72 / West Higgins Road
Turn left onto IL 72 / West Higgins Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
7.1 mi into trip
|
~14m 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
24.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward IL 59
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 59
Toward IL 59
7
27.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
IL 62; IL 68 / Dundee Road
Turn sharp left onto IL 62; IL 68 / Dundee Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.35 one way
$12.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.97 | $13.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.81 | $15.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.96 | $17.93 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.19
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(17 mi)
$1.19
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 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 | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
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
Crystal Lake, IL
Late night in Crystal Lake on Sunday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
8 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 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 characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll navigate a series of local roads and junctions rather than settling into a consistent highway pace. With a 0% highway share, the entire 40.6 miles will be on local roads, requiring your attention for frequent directional changes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17 miles on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, offering a brief period of less frequent turns before you transition back to more local navigation. Be prepared for a driving experience that demands constant awareness of your surroundings and upcoming turns.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 3.7 miles in near IL 72 / North Oriole Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 3.7 miles (IL 72 / North Oriole Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (IL 72 / West Higgins Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 40.6 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.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.19 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 Crystal Lake, 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 3.7 miles (IL 72 / North Oriole Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.7 miles (IL 72 / West Higgins Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Crystal Lake, 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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