Origin
Alden, IL
Night in Alden on Wednesday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alden, IL to Elgin, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h
Distance
42.8 mi
69 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alden, IL
Mike Tyurin
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Alden, IL to Elgin, IL covers 42.8 miles and takes about 1h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, State Route 23, East Grant Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.2 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
21.4 miles from Alden, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Alden, IL to Elgin, IL covers 42.8 miles and takes about 1h, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 173.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 (IL 173): Navigation decision point; at 22.8 miles (US 20 / East Grant Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 27.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 173
Turn left onto IL 173
Navigation decision point
5
22.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
US 20 / East Grant Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 20 / East Grant Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
27.4 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
27.9 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
40 mi into trip
|
~54m 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
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 Alden, IL to Elgin, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rockford along the way.
Rockford
27.2 mi in
|
~39m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| State Route 23 | 10.6 mi | 16m |
| East Grant Highway | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| IL 173 | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| North State Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| North Division Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| U.S. Grant Memorial Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Chicago Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 12.2 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alden, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on V12
11 ft
·
7 sec
·
Alden Road
2
Turn left onto IL 173
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
IL 173
3
Turn left onto US 14; IL 173
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Division Street
4
Turn right onto IL 23
11 mi
·
16 min
·
State Route 23
5
Turn left onto US 20
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Grant Highway
6
Enter roundabout onto US 20
110 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Grant Highway
7
Continue on US 20
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Grant Highway
8
Enter roundabout onto US 20
114 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Grant Highway
9
Continue on US 20
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Grant Highway
10
Continue on US 20
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 90 Toll West, I 90 Toll East: Chicago, Rockford
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 90 Toll East: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 90
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 54A
Toward IL 31 South
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto IL 31
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North State Street
16
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Chicago Street
17
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 21.4 miles from Alden, IL, or about 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 42.8 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 21.4 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elgin, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alden, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alden, IL
This is one driving day of about 42.8 miles and 1h.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 12.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.4 mi from Alden, IL · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from Alden, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elgin, IL
The final approach into Elgin, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.69 one way
$13.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.35 | $14.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.24 | $16.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.45 | $18.90 |
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 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 | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.99 | $2.74 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Night in Elgin on Wednesday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Coral, IL
21 mi in
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
15 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 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alden, IL to Elgin, IL covers 42.8 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, State Route 23, East Grant Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.4 miles from Alden, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.69 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IL 173): Navigation decision point; at 22.8 miles (US 20 / East Grant Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 27.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Alden, IL to Elgin, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rockford along the way.
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