Origin
Alden, IL
Afternoon in Alden on Monday
Local time
2:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alden, IL to Elgin, IL
Drive Time
51m
Distance
37.9 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
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 37.9 miles and takes about 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Division Street, State Route 23, East Grant Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.76 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
19 miles from Alden, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 51m drive with frequent turns across 37.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Division Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Alden, IL to Elgin, IL is easy. At 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alden, IL to Elgin, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Division Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 23 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Grant Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| U | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IL 31 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North State Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Division Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alden, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on Alden Road
10 ft
·
8 sec
·
Alden Road
2
Turn left
6.1 mi
·
8 min
3
Turn left onto North Division Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Division Street
4
Turn right onto State Route 23
11 mi
·
16 min
·
State Route 23
5
Turn left onto East Grant Highway
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Grant Highway
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Grant Highway
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Grant Highway
7
Exit the roundabout onto East Grant Highway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Grant Highway
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Grant Highway
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Grant Highway
9
Exit the roundabout onto East Grant Highway
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Grant Highway
10
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
11
Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 Toll West, I 90 Toll East: Chicago, Rockford
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 90 Toll West, I 90 Toll East: Chicago, Rockford
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 Toll East: Chicago
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90 Toll East: Chicago
13
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
14
Take the exit slight right toward IL 31 South
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
IL 31 South
15
Turn straight onto North State Street
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 your destination
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 19 miles from Alden, IL, or about 25m into the drive.
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 37.9 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 44m
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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alden, IL
This is one driving day of about 37.9 miles and 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alden, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19 mi from Alden, IL · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Elgin, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.76 one way
$11.51 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $6.35 | $12.69 |
| premium | $4.80 | $7.15 | $14.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.42 | $16.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.98 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.31 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Afternoon in Elgin on Monday
Local time
2:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
30 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
51m 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 37.9 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Division Street, 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 19 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 $5.76 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.
The drive from Alden, IL to Elgin, IL is easy. At 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alden, IL to Elgin, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Alden, IL to Elgin, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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