Origin
Broadwell, IL
Afternoon in Broadwell on Thursday
Local time
2:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Broadwell, IL to Elmhurst, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 11m
Distance
168.1 mi
270 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 0m
★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 35m
10 AM
3h 20m
12 PM
3h 18m
3 PM
3h 21m
5 PM
3h 34m
8 PM
3h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Broadwell, IL
Nicolas Foster
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Broadwell, IL to Elmhurst, IL covers 168.1 miles and takes about 3h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, Kingery Highway, West Saint Charles Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 154.5 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.28 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
84 miles from Broadwell, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 168.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 11m highway drive covering 168.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and Kingery Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 154.5 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 154.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Kingery Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.7 miles in near I 55.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 168.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 155.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
7
7.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
37 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
7
155.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward IL 83: Kingery Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 274
Toward IL 83: Kingery Road
8
155.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road
8
155.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road North
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 Broadwell, IL to Elmhurst, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.
Peoria
37 mi in
|
~40m
|
via I 55
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 154.5 mi | 2h 49m |
| Kingery Highway | 10.4 mi | 15m |
| West Saint Charles Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South York Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Old Route 66 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 800th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Park Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 154.5 mi, about 2h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Broadwell, IL and Elmhurst, IL.
1
Start on Old Route 66
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Old Route 66
2
Turn straight onto 800th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
800th Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 55 North: Bloomington
4
Merge onto I 55
7.0 mi
·
7 min
·
I 55
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
118 mi
·
2 hr 10 min
·
I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 274
Toward IL 83: Kingery Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road North
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on IL 83
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Kingery Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
338 ft
·
9 sec
12
Turn slight right onto West Saint Charles Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Saint Charles Road
13
Turn left onto South York Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South York Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
38 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Park Avenue
15
Turn slight right
65 ft
·
4 sec
16
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 84 miles from Broadwell, IL, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.5 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 37 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84 miles or 1h 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 2h 32m
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 Broadwell, 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 Broadwell, IL
This is one driving day of about 168.1 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Broadwell, 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 I 55 for about 154.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84 mi from Broadwell, IL · 1h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 84 miles from Broadwell, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154.5 miles.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.28 one way
$52.56 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.85 | $57.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.35 | $64.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.11 | $74.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.4 | 0 | $17.65 | $8.07 |
| Efficient EV | 42 | 0 | $14.71 | $6.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.53 | $10.76 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Elmhurst, IL
Afternoon in Elmhurst on Thursday
Local time
2:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Fairbury, IL
84 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
6 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
3h 11m 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 Broadwell, IL to Elmhurst, IL covers 168.1 miles and takes about 3h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Kingery Highway, West Saint Charles Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84 miles from Broadwell, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.28 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 is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 168.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 155.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Broadwell, IL to Elmhurst, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Peoria along the way.
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