Origin
West Ridge, IL
Morning in West Ridge on Tuesday
Local time
8:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Ridge, 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
50m
Distance
33.9 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Ridge, IL
Arti Kh
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 33.9-mile drive from West Ridge, IL to Elgin, IL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 50 minutes. Designed as a single-day adventure, you'll navigate primarily on local roads with a significant portion on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Expect a fuel cost of around $5 for this journey. The route stays within the Midwest region, offering a familiar drive through Illinois. It's a practical choice for a quick excursion with minimal planning needed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 20.6 mi | 22m |
| West Devon Avenue | 5.7 mi | 13m |
| West Peterson Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Dundee Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Caldwell Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| North California Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Center Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Rockwell Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 20.6 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Ridge, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on this road
92 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West Arthur Avenue
496 ft
·
27 sec
·
West Arthur Avenue
3
Turn left onto North Rockwell Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
North Rockwell Street
4
Turn right onto West Devon Avenue
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Devon Avenue
5
Turn left onto North California Avenue
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
North California Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 14
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
West Peterson Avenue
7
Continue on US 14
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Caldwell Avenue
8
Turn slight left onto West Devon Avenue
5.5 mi
·
12 min
·
West Devon Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 90
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
504 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
13
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
this road
14
Turn left onto IL 25
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Dundee Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on Center Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Center Street
16
Turn right
311 ft
·
28 sec
17
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
117 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Chicago Street
18
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from West Ridge, 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 0 and 31 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Arthur Avenue
Turn right onto West Arthur Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Rockwell Street
Turn left onto North Rockwell Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Devon Avenue
Turn right onto West Devon Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
10.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 West Toll
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 90 West Toll
7
31 mi into trip
|
~43m 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
$5.30 one way
$10.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.82 | $11.64 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.52 | $13.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.48 | $14.97 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.44
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(20.6 mi)
$1.44
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 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 | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
8:44 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
10 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
50m 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 as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting a dynamic route with frequent changes in direction rather than a monotonous highway cruise. While the highway share is 0%, you will encounter the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for a significant stretch of 20.6 miles, which will likely offer a faster pace. The combination of local streets and the tollway means you'll experience varied driving conditions, from navigating urban or suburban areas to potentially smoother, more direct travel on the tollway. Be prepared for the transitions between these road types.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.6 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Arthur Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 33.9 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: near the start (West Arthur Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Rockwell Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West Devon Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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 50m. Total distance: 33.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.6 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.44 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.
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: near the start (West Arthur Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Rockwell Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West Devon Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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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