Trip from Buffalo Grove, IL to Berwyn, IL

Drive Time

48m

Distance

31.3 mi

50 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min

4 AM

0h 45m ★

6 AM

0h 49m

8 AM

0h 57m

10 AM

0h 52m

12 PM

0h 51m

3 PM

0h 52m

5 PM

0h 56m

8 PM

0h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Buffalo Grove, IL

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Berwyn, IL

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Trip Overview

Traveling from Buffalo Grove to Berwyn covers 34.4 miles of local terrain within the Illinois Midwest. You can expect the journey to take approximately 50 minutes, making it a straightforward day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $5, this is an incredibly economical route to navigate. Because the entire drive consists of local roads, you should prepare for a steady pace rather than high-speed highway travel. It is a practical connection for those moving between these two suburbs, offering a direct path without the complexity of long-distance planning.

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

15.6 miles from Buffalo Grove, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you alert throughout the 34.4-mile trek. You will spend 0% of your time on highways, relying instead on surface streets like South Buffalo Grove Road, Lake Cook Road, and McHenry Road. There is no long-distance cruising here; in fact, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on South Buffalo Grove Road. The personality of this drive is defined by frequent navigation through local intersections, requiring your full attention as you transition between these specific suburban arteries.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 11.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Lake Cook Road.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 31.3 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 0.2 miles (Lake Cook Road): Navigation decision point; at 22 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Lake Cook Road

Turn right onto Lake Cook Road

Navigation decision point

22 mi into trip | ~33m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Take the exit onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

23 mi into trip | ~35m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 290 East: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 31B Toward I 290 East: Chicago

27.6 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward IL 171: 1st Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 20 Toward IL 171: 1st Avenue

27.8 mi into trip | ~42m in | IL 171 / South 1st Avenue

Turn right onto IL 171 / South 1st Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Buffalo Grove, IL to Berwyn, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.

Indiana

22 mi in | ~33m | via I 294

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Tri-State Tollway	11.9 mi	15m
North Elmhurst Road	4.3 mi	7m
I 290	4.2 mi	5m
Rand Road	3.2 mi	5m
McHenry Road	1.4 mi	2m
South 1st Avenue	1.4 mi	2m
East Rand Road	1.3 mi	2m
Cermak Road	1.3 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Tri-State Tollway — 11.9 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo Grove, IL and Berwyn, IL.

Start on Aptakisic Road

60 ft · 5 sec · Aptakisic Road

Turn right onto South Buffalo Grove Road

0.2 mi · 20 sec · South Buffalo Grove Road

Turn right onto Lake Cook Road

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Lake Cook Road

Turn right onto IL 83

1.4 mi · 2 min · McHenry Road

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto IL 83

4.3 mi · 7 min · North Elmhurst Road

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto US 12

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Rand Road

Continue on US 12

3.2 mi · 5 min · Rand Road

Continue on North Northwest Highway

518 ft · 13 sec · North Northwest Highway

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 294 South: Indiana

Merge onto I 294

11 mi · 14 min · Tri-State Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto I 294

1.0 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 48 sec

Exit 31B Toward I 290 East: Chicago Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 290

4.2 mi · 5 min · I 290

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Exit 20 Toward IL 171: 1st Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn slight left onto Bataan Drive

381 ft · 14 sec · Bataan Drive

Turn right onto IL 171

1.4 mi · 2 min · South 1st Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto 1st Avenue Cutoff

0.2 mi · 31 sec · 1st Avenue Cutoff

Turn straight onto Cermak Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Cermak Road

Use the left lane.

Continue on West Cermak Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Cermak Road

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

West Cermak Road

Trip Plan

Since this is a short, 50-minute local commute, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire trip in a single day without needing to schedule rest stops or extended breaks. Keep in mind that because you are strictly using local roads, traffic patterns on McHenry Road or Lake Cook Road will have a significant impact on your arrival time. My best advice is to check your GPS for real-time turn-by-turn updates before you leave, as the lack of highway miles means you will encounter numerous stop-and-go points along the way.

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 15.6 miles from Buffalo Grove, IL, or about 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.9 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 31.3 miles or 48m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 15.6 miles or 24m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Berwyn, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Buffalo Grove, 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 Buffalo Grove, IL

This is one driving day of about 31.3 miles and 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Buffalo Grove, 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.

The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 11.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 15.6 mi from Buffalo Grove, IL · 24m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Des Plaines, IL

16 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

Oak Park, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Des Plaines, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 15.6 miles from Buffalo Grove, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Berwyn, IL

The final approach into Berwyn, 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 Berwyn, 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

$4.75 one way

$9.51 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$5.24	$10.48
premium	$4.80	$5.91	$11.82
diesel	$5.64	$6.95	$13.91

Estimated Tolls: $0.72

Tri-state Tollway (11.9 mi) $0.72

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

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	9.4	$3.29	$1.50
Efficient EV	7.8	$2.74	$1.25
EV Truck/SUV	12.5	$4.38	$2.00

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Buffalo Grove, IL

Evening in Buffalo Grove on Sunday

Local time

7:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Berwyn, IL

Evening in Berwyn on Sunday

Local time

7:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°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

2 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

48m 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 Buffalo Grove, IL to Berwyn, IL covers 31.3 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, North Elmhurst Road, I 290. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 15.6 miles from Buffalo Grove, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.75 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.

On the drive from Buffalo Grove, IL to Berwyn, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Indiana along the way.

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Trip from Buffalo Grove, IL to Berwyn, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Berwyn, IL

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Buffalo Grove, IL

Berwyn, IL

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

48m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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