Origin
Caledonia, IL
Night in Caledonia on Thursday
Local time
9:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Caledonia, IL to Elgin, IL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
58m
Distance
45.6 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Caledonia, IL
Gül Işık
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Caledonia, IL to Elgin, IL covers 45.6 miles and takes about 58m 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, Fairgrounds Road, US 20 Business for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.8 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.13 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 45.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (13%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 58m drive with frequent turns across 45.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 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 28.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 45.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (IL 76 / Fairgrounds Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
IL 76 / Fairgrounds Road
Turn right onto IL 76 / Fairgrounds Road
Navigation decision point
5
14.1 mi into trip
|
~21m 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.
6
26 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
42.8 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 28.8 mi | 30m |
| Fairgrounds Road | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| US 20 Business | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| State Route 173 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| North State Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| Genoa Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Chicago Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 28.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caledonia, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on Front Street
114 ft
·
7 sec
·
Front Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
446 ft
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto IL 173
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 173
4
Turn right onto IL 76
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Fairgrounds Road
5
Turn left onto US 20 Business
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 20 Business
6
Continue on CR T40
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Genoa Road
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge onto I 90
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
17 mi
·
18 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 54A
Toward IL 31 South
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto IL 31
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North State Street
12
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Chicago Street
13
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.8 mi from Caledonia, IL · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.8 miles from Caledonia, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elgin, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Elgin, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.13 one way
$14.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.83 | $15.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.78 | $17.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.07 | $20.14 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.01
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(28.8 mi)
$2.01
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Night in Elgin on Thursday
Local time
9:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 10 mph
34% chance
Live forecast
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
22 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
58m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Caledonia, IL to Elgin, IL covers 45.6 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Fairgrounds Road, US 20 Business. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.8 miles from Caledonia, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.13 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 45.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (IL 76 / Fairgrounds Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Caledonia, IL to Elgin, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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