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Trip from Clear Lake, IL to Hoffman Estates, IL

Drive Time

3h 49m

Distance

201.5 mi

324 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 36m ★
6 AM
3h 49m
8 AM
4h 15m
10 AM
3h 58m
12 PM
3h 56m
3 PM
3h 59m
5 PM
4h 13m
8 PM
3h 42m

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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Downtown Clear Lake, IL, IL

Clear Lake, IL

Tommes Frites

Downtown Hoffman Estates, IL, IL

Hoffman Estates, IL

Choco Kitty

Trip Overview

The drive from Clear Lake, IL to Hoffman Estates, IL covers 201.5 miles and takes about 3h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 55, Veterans Memorial Tollway, I 290 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 170.7 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.61 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

100.8 miles from Clear Lake, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 3h 49m highway drive covering 201.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and Veterans Memorial Tollway. The longest continuous stretch is about 170.7 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 19 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 170.7 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

812 ft 554 ft

Total Climb

592 ft

Total Descent

384 ft

Highest Point

812 ft

~67.2 mi in

Elevation Range

258 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Veterans Memorial Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Dixon Street.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 201.5 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 0.1 miles (South Dixon Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Dixon Street

Turn right onto South Dixon Street

Navigation decision point

7
30.9 mi into trip | ~35m 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
60.3 mi into trip | ~1h 6m 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
8
172.8 mi into trip | ~3h 9m in

Take the exit toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs

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 269 Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest...
8
198.3 mi into trip | ~3h 43m in

Take the exit toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road

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

Use the right lane. Exit 1B Toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Ro...

Towns Along This Route

Between Clear Lake, IL and Hoffman Estates, IL, road signs point toward Peoria and Southwest Suburbs.

Peoria

60.3 mi in | ~1h 6m | via I 55

Southwest Suburbs

172.8 mi in | ~3h 9m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 170.7 mi 3h 5m
Veterans Memorial Tollway 19.2 mi 24m
I 290 4.6 mi 5m
East Higgins Road 1.6 mi 2m
West Higgins Road 1 mi 1m
Old Route 36 0.7 mi 1m
I 72 0.3 mi <1m
North Roselle Road 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 170.7 mi, about 3h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clear Lake, IL and Hoffman Estates, IL.

1

Start on West Houston Street

491 ft · 18 sec · West Houston Street
2

Turn right onto South Dixon Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · South Dixon Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto Old Route 36

0.7 mi · 1 min · Old Route 36
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec
5

Merge onto I 72; US 36

0.3 mi · 19 sec · I 72; US 36
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 55 North: Chicago
7

Merge onto I 55

29 mi · 31 min · I 55
8

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.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

112 mi · 2 hr 3 min · I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 269 Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork

1.2 mi · 2 min
Toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
12

Merge onto I 355

19 mi · 24 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto I 290

4.6 mi · 5 min · I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Exit 1B Toward IL 72, IL 58: Higgins Road, Woodfield Road, Golf Road Use the right lane.
15

Turn left onto IL 72

1.6 mi · 2 min · East Higgins Road
Use the left lane.
16

Continue on IL 72

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Higgins Road
17

Turn left onto North Roselle Road

0.2 mi · 36 sec · North Roselle Road
18

Turn left onto Bode Road

15 ft · 0 sec · Bode Road
19

Arrive at destination

Bode Road

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 100.8 miles from Clear Lake, IL, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.7 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 100.8 miles or 1h 50m 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 1m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Clear Lake, 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 Clear Lake, IL

This is one driving day of about 201.5 miles and 3h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clear Lake, 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 170.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 100.8 mi from Clear Lake, IL · 1h 50m into the drive

Downtown Normal, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Normal, IL

101 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

Normal, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Normal, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 100.8 miles from Clear Lake, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 170.7 miles.

Arriving in Hoffman Estates, IL

The final approach into Hoffman Estates, 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 Hoffman Estates, 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.

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

National Monument

In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Pullman National Historical Park

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 ~54 min detour Free near mile 173.7
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.61 one way

$61.21 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 71 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $33.74 $67.48
premium $4.80 $38.04 $76.08
diesel $5.64 $44.77 $89.53

Estimated Tolls: $1.35

Veterans Memorial Tollway (19.2 mi) $1.35

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

$31

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60.4 0 $21.16 $9.67
Efficient EV 50.4 0 $17.63 $8.06
EV Truck/SUV 80.6 1 $28.21 $12.90

Gas CO2

71 kg

EV CO2

24 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 data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Clear Lake, IL

Evening in Clear Lake on Sunday

Local time

5:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 23 mph 45% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:16PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Hoffman Estates, IL

Evening in Hoffman Estates on Sunday

Local time

5:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 25 mph 31% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:16PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

1 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 49m 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 Clear Lake, IL to Hoffman Estates, IL covers 201.5 miles and takes about 3h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Veterans Memorial Tollway, I 290. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.8 miles from Clear Lake, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.61 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 15 significant decision points across 201.5 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 0.1 miles (South Dixon Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.3 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Clear Lake, IL and Hoffman Estates, IL, road signs point toward Peoria and Southwest Suburbs.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 554 ft to 812 ft elevation with about 592 ft of total climbing.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Hoffman Estates, IL to Clear Lake, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

201.1 mi 3h 49m

Continue From Hoffman Estates, IL

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