Origin
Elgin, IL
Late night in Elgin on Friday
Local time
12:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elgin, IL to Near South Side, IL
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h
Distance
40 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 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Near South Side, IL
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
The drive from Elgin, IL to Near South Side, IL covers 40 miles and takes about 1h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, West Lake Street, Lake Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.5 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.25 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 40 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Elgin, IL to Near South Side, IL covers 40 miles and takes about 1h, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 17.5 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 19.7 miles in near US 20.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40 miles you will encounter 11 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 19.7 miles (US 20): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
19.7 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
US 20
Take the ramp onto US 20 toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago
5
37.2 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor St...
7
37.3 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
7
38.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward 18th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
6
38.6 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
West 18th Street
Turn left onto West 18th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 17.5 mi | 24m |
| West Lake Street | 10.3 mi | 15m |
| Lake Street | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| Villa Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| West 18th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East 18th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 17.5 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin, IL and Near South Side, IL.
1
Start on East Chicago Street
34 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Chicago Street
2
Turn right onto Villa Street
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Villa Street
3
Merge onto US 20
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
4
Continue on US 20
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
West Lake Street
5
Continue on US 20
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Lake Street
6
Continue on US 20
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
West Lake Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
7
Take the ramp onto US 20
17 mi
·
24 min
·
US 20
Toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
10
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 52C
Toward 18th Street
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue
208 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Union Avenue
13
Turn left onto West 18th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West 18th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on East 18th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East 18th Street
15
Turn right onto South Michigan Avenue
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Michigan Avenue
16
Turn right onto East Cullerton Street
228 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Cullerton Street
17
Turn right
445 ft
·
32 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20 mi from Elgin, IL · 30m 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20 miles from Elgin, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Near South Side, IL
The final approach into Near South Side, 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
$6.25 one way
$12.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.87 | $13.73 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.70 | $15.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.83 | $17.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 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 | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
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
Near South Side, IL
Late night in Near South Side on Friday
Local time
12:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
12 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 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 Elgin, IL to Near South Side, IL covers 40 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, West Lake Street, Lake Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20 miles from Elgin, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.25 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 40 miles you will encounter 11 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 19.7 miles (US 20): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Elgin, IL to Near South Side, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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