Origin
Chester, IL
Night in Chester on Wednesday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chester, IL to Elk Grove, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 35m
Distance
354.2 mi
570 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 22m
★
6 AM
5h 35m
8 AM
6h 2m
10 AM
5h 45m
12 PM
5h 42m
3 PM
5h 46m
5 PM
6h 1m
8 PM
5h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chester, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Elk Grove, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Chester, IL to Elk Grove, IL covers 354.2 miles and takes about 5h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Street, East Holmes Street, Lehmen Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
177.1 miles from Chester, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 35m drive with frequent turns across 354.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chester, IL to Elk Grove, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Street | — | — |
| East Holmes Street | — | — |
| Lehmen Drive | — | — |
| South State Street | — | — |
| Illinois Street | — | — |
| North Illinois Street | — | — |
| South Morrison Avenue | — | — |
| Vandalia Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
State Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chester, IL and Elk Grove, IL.
1
Start on East Stacey Street
125 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Stacey Street
2
Turn left onto State Street
387 ft
·
10 sec
·
State Street
3
Turn left onto East Holmes Street
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Holmes Street
4
Continue on Lehmen Drive
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Lehmen Drive
5
Continue on South State Street
18 mi
·
22 min
·
South State Street
6
Continue straight
20 mi
·
30 min
7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street
177 ft
·
4 sec
·
Illinois Street
8
Exit the rotary onto North Illinois Street
9.8 mi
·
15 min
·
North Illinois Street
9
Continue on South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Morrison Avenue
10
Continue on Vandalia Street
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Vandalia Street
11
Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North, I 70 East
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 55 North, I 70 East
12
Merge slight left
3.8 mi
·
4 min
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
108 mi
·
1 hr 56 min
·
I 55 North, I 270 West: Chicago, Springfield, Kansas City
14
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55 North: Chicago
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
118 mi
·
2 hr 10 min
·
I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
16
Take the exit slight right toward IL 83: Kingery Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
IL 83: Kingery Road
17
Keep slight left to continue on IL 83 North: Kingery Road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
IL 83 North: Kingery Road
18
Keep slight right to continue on IL 83 North: Kingery Road North
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
IL 83 North: Kingery Road North
19
Continue on Kingery Highway
16 mi
·
23 min
·
Kingery Highway
20
Continue on Busse Road
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Busse Road
21
Turn right onto Touhy Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Touhy Avenue
22
Turn right onto East Higgins Road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East Higgins Road
23
Turn right onto South Elmhurst Road
351 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Elmhurst Road
24
Arrive at your 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 177.1 miles from Chester, IL, or about 2h 47m 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 78 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.1 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elk Grove, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chester, 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 Chester, IL
This is one driving day of about 354.2 miles and 5h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Chester, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 177.1 mi from Chester, IL · 2h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
177 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 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 177.1 miles from Chester, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elk Grove, IL
The final approach into Elk Grove, 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 Elk Grove, 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
$55.38 one way
$110.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
124 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $60.80 | $121.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $68.16 | $136.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $78.20 | $156.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.3 | 1 | $37.19 | $17.00 |
| Efficient EV | 88.6 | 1 | $30.99 | $14.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 141.7 | 1 | $49.59 | $22.67 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Elk Grove, IL
Night in Elk Grove on Wednesday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Jacksonville, IL
177 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
4 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
5h 35m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chester, IL to Elk Grove, IL covers 354.2 miles and takes about 5h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Street, East Holmes Street, Lehmen Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 177.1 miles from Chester, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.38 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chester, IL to Elk Grove, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chester, IL to Elk Grove, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Elk Grove, IL
More from Chester, IL
More trips to Elk Grove, IL
Explore more options from Chester, IL or browse trips ending in Elk Grove, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Chester, IL or Elk Grove, IL on MapSof.net.