Origin
Crystal Lake, IL
Late night in Crystal Lake on Saturday
Local time
1:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Crystal Lake, IL to Bellwood, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
39.8 mi
64 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Crystal Lake, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Bellwood, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Crystal Lake, IL to Bellwood, IL is 39.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 2 minutes via I 290 and Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip connecting two points within Illinois' Midwest region. The drive is predominantly on major roadways, making it a practical option for commuting or a quick visit. Expect a mixed driving experience with a significant portion on the interstate. It's a short enough distance that you won't feel rushed, offering flexibility in your departure time.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 39.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route offers a mixed drive, with 39% of your journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of fast-paced interstate travel, notably a 12.8-mile segment on I 290 without significant interruptions. The drive begins on local roads like West Algonquin Road before merging onto larger arteries. As you progress, the character shifts from suburban to more urban, with the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and I 290 forming the backbone of the latter half of your trip. It's less about scenic vistas and more about efficient travel.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 290 is the longest continuous segment at about 12.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 39.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 22.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.3 miles (I 290; IL 53): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
22.2 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 68A-B
Toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs
9
22.7 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West Suburbs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 68A
Toward I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West S...
5
23.3 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
I 290; IL 53
Merge onto I 290; IL 53
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
29 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
I 290
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290 toward I 290 East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago
8
36.1 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
US 20
Take the exit onto US 20 toward US 20 East, IL 64 East, I 294 North: Milwaukee, Truck Route
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 13A
Toward US 20 East, IL 64 East, I 294 North: Mil...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Crystal Lake, IL and Bellwood, IL, road signs point toward Suburbs and Truck Route.
Suburbs
22.2 mi in
|
~35m
Truck Route
36.1 mi in
|
~54m
|
via US 20
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 12.8 mi | 16m |
| West Algonquin Road | 7.8 mi | 12m |
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| Pyott Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| US 20 | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Algonquin Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| North Barrington Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 12.8 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crystal Lake, IL and Bellwood, IL.
1
Start on East Crystal Lake Avenue
25 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Crystal Lake Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
3
Continue on V32
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Pyott Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto A48
7.8 mi
·
12 min
·
West Algonquin Road
5
Turn straight onto IL 62; IL 68
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Dundee Road
6
Continue on IL 62
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Algonquin Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto North Barrington Road
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Barrington Road
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
37 sec
9
Merge onto I 90
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 68A-B
Toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 68A
Toward I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West Suburbs
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
this road
Exit 68A
Toward I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West Suburbs
13
Merge onto I 290; IL 53
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 290; IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 290
7.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 290
Toward I 290 East: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit onto US 20
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 20
Exit 13A
Toward US 20 East, IL 64 East, I 294 North: Milwaukee, Truck Route
Use the right lane.
16
Turn slight right onto US 20
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 20
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
US 20
18
Turn right onto US 12; US 20; US 45
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Mannheim Road
Use the right lane.
19
Arrive at destination
US 12; US 20; US 45
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.9 mi from Crystal Lake, IL · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.9 miles from Crystal Lake, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bellwood, IL
The final approach into Bellwood, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.22 one way
$12.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.83 | $13.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.66 | $15.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.79 | $17.57 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.32
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(4.5 mi)
$0.32
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.18 | $1.91 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.48 | $1.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.57 | $2.55 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Bellwood, IL
Late night in Bellwood on Saturday
Local time
1:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
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
5 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
1h 2m 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 Crystal Lake, IL to Bellwood, IL covers 39.8 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 290, West Algonquin Road, Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.9 miles from Crystal Lake, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.22 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 39.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 22.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.3 miles (I 290; IL 53): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Crystal Lake, IL and Bellwood, IL, road signs point toward Suburbs and Truck Route.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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