Origin
River Forest, IL
Morning in River Forest on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from River Forest, 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
47m
Distance
27.4 mi
44 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
River Forest, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 27.4-mile drive from River Forest, IL, to Elgin, IL, is a straightforward, single-day excursion that should take about 47 minutes to complete. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $4, it's an economical trip for most vehicles. The route primarily utilizes local roads, with a 23% highway share, making it a turn-heavy experience rather than a high-speed dash. Given its short distance and duration, this journey is perfectly suited as a quick day trip, allowing for plenty of time to explore your destination. You'll be traveling within the Midwest region, staying within the state of Illinois for the entirety of your trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Lake Street | 8.4 mi | 12m |
| Lake Street | 6.7 mi | 11m |
| US 20 | 6.4 mi | 10m |
| Villa Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Chicago Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Augusta Street | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| West North Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Thatcher Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Lake Street
— 8.4 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between River Forest, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on Augusta Street
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Augusta Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Thatcher Avenue
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Thatcher Avenue
3
Turn right onto Chicago Avenue
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Chicago Avenue
4
Turn slight left
144 ft
·
6 sec
5
Turn right onto West Lake Street
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
West Lake Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto South Railroad Avenue
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
South Railroad Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Turn left onto IL 64
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
West North Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 290 West, US 20 West: Rockford
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on US 20
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 20
10
Take the exit onto US 20
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 20
Exit 12
Toward US 20 West, IL 64 West: Lake Street, York Road
Use the right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
US 20
Toward US 20 West: Lake Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 20
5.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lake Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
13
Continue on US 20
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Street
14
Continue on US 20
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
West Lake Street
15
Continue on US 20
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
16
Turn slight left onto Villa Street
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Villa Street
Toward Villa Street
Use the slight left lane.
17
Turn left
311 ft
·
28 sec
18
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
117 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Chicago Street
19
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 7.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Thatcher Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Thatcher Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
West Lake Street
Turn right onto West Lake Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
6.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the ramp toward I 290 West, US 20 West: Rockford
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 290 West, US 20 West: Rockford
8
7.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 20
Take the exit onto US 20 toward US 20 West, IL 64 West: Lake Street, York Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 12
Toward US 20 West, IL 64 West: Lake Street, Yor...
7
7.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20 toward US 20 West: Lake Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 20 West: Lake Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.28 one way
$8.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.70 | $9.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.27 | $10.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.05 | $12.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
| Efficient EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.40 | $1.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.75 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
7:21 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
1 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
47m 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 predominantly local driving experience on this route, characterized by frequent turns and adjustments. While 23% of the drive involves highway travel, the majority unfolds on surface streets. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 8.4 miles along West Lake Street, offering a brief period of less interrupted driving. This profile suggests a journey where you'll be navigating through various community settings, with the road potentially changing character as you move between different areas. It's a drive that keeps you engaged with your surroundings.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.4 mi on West Lake Street.
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 0.6 miles in near Thatcher Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 27.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Thatcher Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (West Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 47m. Total distance: 27.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.4 miles on West Lake Street. 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 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 0.6 miles (Thatcher Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (West Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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