The drive from Colona, IL to Elk Grove, IL covers 154.2 miles and takes about 2h 59m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IL 110, Kingery Highway, Busse Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 135 miles on IL 110.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.11 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
77.1 miles from Colona, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 154.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 59m highway drive covering 154.2 miles, with most of the trip on IL 110 and Kingery Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 135 miles on IL 110.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IL 110 is the longest continuous segment at about 135 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 110 and Kingery Highway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in near IL 110.
Driving Effort6/10
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 154.2 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 4 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 140.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.4 miles (IL 56 / Butterfield Road): 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.
8
4 mi into trip|~5m in|IL 110
Take the exit onto IL 110 toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
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 4B
Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Fa...
7
140.6 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward Midwest Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 136
Toward Midwest Road
5
141.4 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|IL 56 / Butterfield Road
Turn right onto IL 56 / Butterfield Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
142.3 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Take the ramp toward IL 83 North, IL 38 West: Kingery Highway, Roosevelt Road
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 83 North, IL 38 West: Kingery Highway...
5
142.5 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|IL 83 / Kingery Highway
Merge onto IL 83 / Kingery Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IL 110
135 mi
2h 28m
Kingery Highway
7.4 mi
12m
Busse Road
3.1 mi
5m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
2.8 mi
3m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
1.5 mi
1m
Butterfield Road
0.9 mi
1m
Touhy Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Cleveland Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
IL 110
— 135 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colona, IL and Elk Grove, IL.
1
Start on Cleveland Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Cleveland Road
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
3
Merge onto I 80; IL 110
2.8 mi·3 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
4
Take the exit onto IL 110
135 mi·2 hr 28 min·IL 110
Exit 4BToward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
1.5 mi·1 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 136Toward Midwest RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto Midwest Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Midwest Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto IL 56
0.9 mi·1 min·Butterfield Road
Use the right lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward IL 83 North, IL 38 West: Kingery Highway, Roosevelt RoadUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto IL 83
7.4 mi·12 min·Kingery Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on IL 83
3.1 mi·5 min·Busse Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Touhy Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Touhy Avenue
13
Turn right onto IL 72
0.1 mi·16 sec·East Higgins Road
14
Turn right onto South Elmhurst Road
349 ft·7 sec·South Elmhurst Road
15
Arrive at destination
South Elmhurst Road
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77.1 miles from Colona, IL, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135 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 34 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.1 miles or 1h 25m 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 19m
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 Colona, 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 Colona, IL
This is one driving day of about 154.2 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Colona, 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 IL 110 for about 135 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 77.1 mi from Colona, IL
· 1h 25m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 143.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.11 one way
$48.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.47
$52.94
premium
$4.89
$29.67
$59.35
diesel
$5.61
$34.05
$68.09
Estimated Tolls: $0.09
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(1.5 mi)$0.09
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
$24
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.3
0
$16.19
$7.40
Efficient EV
38.6
0
$13.49
$6.17
EV Truck/SUV
61.7
0
$21.59
$9.87
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Colona, IL
Late night
in Colona on Friday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elk Grove, IL
Late night
in Elk Grove on Friday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
2h 59m 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 Colona, IL to Elk Grove, IL covers 154.2 miles and takes about 2h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IL 110, Kingery Highway, Busse 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 77.1 miles from Colona, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.11 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 154.2 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 4 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 140.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.4 miles (IL 56 / Butterfield Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Colona, IL to Elk Grove, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
