Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
54m
Distance
34.4 mi
55 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Summit, IL
Rodrigo Contreras Elvira
The drive from Elgin, IL to Summit, IL covers 34.4 miles and takes about 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Lake Street, US 20, Lake Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.3 miles on West Lake Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 34.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Expect a 54m drive with frequent turns across 34.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Villa Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Villa Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.7 miles (US 20): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Villa Street
Navigation decision point
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
Take the exit toward IL 171: 1st Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto IL 171 / South 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto IL 171 / South Archer Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Lake Street | 10.3 mi | 15m |
| US 20 | 7.7 mi | 10m |
| Lake Street | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| South 1st Avenue | 6.5 mi | 12m |
| Villa Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Archer Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Bataan Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin, IL and Summit, IL.
Start on East Chicago Street
Turn right onto Villa Street
Merge onto US 20
Continue on US 20
Continue on US 20
Continue on US 20
Take the ramp onto US 20
Take the exit
Turn slight left onto Bataan Drive
Turn right onto IL 171
Turn right onto IL 171
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.2 mi from Elgin, IL · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.2 miles from Elgin, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Summit, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$5.38 one way
$10.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.90 | $11.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.62 | $13.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.60 | $15.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Elgin on Thursday
Local time
9:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Night in Summit on Thursday
Local time
9:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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