The drive from Aledo, IL to Elmhurst, IL covers 186.5 miles and takes about 3h 41m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IL 110, Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, IL 17 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 135 miles on IL 110.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.16 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
93.3 miles from Aledo, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 186.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 41m highway drive covering 186.5 miles, with most of the trip on IL 110 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 135 miles on IL 110.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IL 110 is the longest continuous segment at about 135 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 110 and Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 17; IL 94 / Southeast 3rd Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 186.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 17; IL 94 / Southeast 3rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles (US 150): Navigation decision point; at 28.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 17; IL 94 / Southeast 3rd Street
Turn right onto IL 17; IL 94 / Southeast 3rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
19.4 mi into trip|~29m in|US 150
At end of road, turn left onto US 150
Navigation decision point
6
28.2 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
8
44.6 mi into trip|~1h in|IL 110
Take the exit onto IL 110 toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4B
Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Fa...
7
181.1 mi into trip|~3h 31m in
Take the exit toward Midwest Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 136
Toward Midwest Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Aledo, IL and Elmhurst, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island and Rock Falls.
Rock Island
28.2 mi in|~42m
Rock Falls
44.6 mi in|~1h|via IL 110
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IL 110
135 mi
2h 28m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
16.1 mi
17m
IL 17
14.1 mi
20m
US 150
6.4 mi
9m
West Main Street
3.7 mi
5m
Butterfield Road
2.4 mi
4m
South York Street
2.1 mi
4m
IL 81
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
IL 110
— 135 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aledo, IL and Elmhurst, IL.
1
Start on IL 94
72 ft·5 sec·South College Avenue
2
Turn right onto IL 17; IL 94
1.6 mi·3 min·Southeast 3rd Street
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on IL 17
14 mi·20 min·IL 17
4
Continue on IL 17
3.7 mi·5 min·West Main Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 150
6.4 mi·9 min·US 150
6
Turn right onto IL 81
0.8 mi·1 min·IL 81
7
Continue on IL 81
0.4 mi·38 sec·South Street
8
Continue on IL 81
1.2 mi·1 min·IL 81
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
10
Merge onto I 74; IL 110
9.8 mi·10 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110
6.3 mi·6 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
12
Take the exit onto IL 110
135 mi·2 hr 28 min·IL 110
Exit 4BToward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
1.5 mi·1 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 136Toward Midwest RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto Midwest Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Midwest Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto IL 56
2.4 mi·4 min·Butterfield Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto South York Street
2.1 mi·4 min·South York Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
38 ft·3 sec·West Park Avenue
19
Turn slight right
65 ft·4 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 93.3 miles from Aledo, IL, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135 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 41 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.3 miles or 1h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elmhurst, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Aledo, 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 Aledo, IL
This is one driving day of about 186.5 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Aledo, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on IL 110 for about 135 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 93.3 mi from Aledo, IL
· 1h 54m into the drive
The midpoint is around 94.2 miles from Aledo, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elmhurst, IL
The final approach into Elmhurst, 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 Elmhurst, IL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 180.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.16 one way
$58.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.01
$64.03
premium
$4.89
$35.89
$71.78
diesel
$5.61
$41.18
$82.35
Estimated Tolls: $0.09
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(1.5 mi)$0.09
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
$29
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.9
0
$19.58
$8.95
Efficient EV
46.6
0
$16.32
$7.46
EV Truck/SUV
74.6
0
$26.11
$11.94
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Aledo, IL
Late night
in Aledo on Friday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elmhurst, IL
Late night
in Elmhurst on Friday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
Flagg, IL
93 mi in
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
18 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
3h 41m 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 Aledo, IL to Elmhurst, IL covers 186.5 miles and takes about 3h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IL 110, Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, IL 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.3 miles from Aledo, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.16 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 186.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 17; IL 94 / Southeast 3rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles (US 150): Navigation decision point; at 28.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Aledo, IL and Elmhurst, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island and Rock Falls.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
