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Trip from Elk Grove, IL to Pana, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 26m

Distance

216.5 mi

348 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 13m ★
6 AM
4h 26m
8 AM
4h 53m
10 AM
4h 35m
12 PM
4h 33m
3 PM
4h 37m
5 PM
4h 51m
8 PM
4h 18m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Elk Grove, IL, IL

Elk Grove, IL

Wikimedia Commons

town in Christian County, Illinois, United States

Pana, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Elk Grove, IL to Pana, IL covers 216.5 miles and takes about 4h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Devon Avenue, Busse Road, Kingery Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.85 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

108.3 miles from Elk Grove, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Devon Avenue
Busse Road
Kingery Highway
Robert Kingery Highway
I 55 South
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
I 74 East
US 51 South

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Devon Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elk Grove, IL and Pana, IL.

1

Start on South Elmhurst Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Elmhurst Road
2

Turn right onto Devon Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · Devon Avenue
3

Turn left onto Busse Road

2.1 mi · 3 min · Busse Road
4

Continue on Kingery Highway

2.0 mi · 3 min · Kingery Highway
5

Continue on Robert Kingery Highway

1.9 mi · 2 min · Robert Kingery Highway
6

Continue on Kingery Highway

11 mi · 17 min · Kingery Highway
7

Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 55 South: Joliet
8

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

117 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
9

Keep slight left to continue on I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
10

Take the exit slight right toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Decatur, Bloomington

0.3 mi · 40 sec · US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Decatur, Bloomington
11

Continue on North 1450 East Road

15 mi · 17 min · North 1450 East Road
12

Continue on North Walnut Street

23 mi · 29 min · North Walnut Street
13

Turn straight

9.9 mi · 15 min
14

Take the ramp straight toward South Business Route 51

20 mi · 23 min · South Business Route 51
15

Continue on North 2600 East Rd

7.9 mi · 9 min · North 2600 East Rd
16

Turn right onto North 2600 East Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · North 2600 East Road
17

Continue on Jackson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Jackson Street
18

Turn left onto Cedar Street

466 ft · 8 sec · Cedar Street
19

Turn right onto East 1st Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · East 1st Street
20

Turn left onto South Poplar Street

463 ft · 13 sec · South Poplar Street
21

Turn left onto East 2nd Street

85 ft · 4 sec · East 2nd Street
22

Arrive at your destination

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 108.3 miles from Elk Grove, IL, or about 2h 13m into the drive.

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 48 miles or 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 108.3 miles or 2h 13m 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 38m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Elk Grove, 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 Elk Grove, IL

This is one driving day of about 216.5 miles and 4h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Elk Grove, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Normal, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Normal, IL

108 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

Romeoville, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Normal, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108.3 miles from Elk Grove, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.85 one way

$67.69 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $37.16 $74.33
premium $4.89 $41.66 $83.33
diesel $5.61 $47.80 $95.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65 0 $22.73 $10.39
Efficient EV 54.1 0 $18.94 $8.66
EV Truck/SUV 86.6 1 $30.31 $13.86

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Elk Grove, IL

Afternoon in Elk Grove on Saturday

Local time

12:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pana, IL

Afternoon in Pana on Saturday

Local time

12:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°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

21 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

4h 26m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

216.5 mi in 4h 26m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Devon Avenue.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

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.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 26m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Elk Grove, IL to Pana, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 216.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Elk Grove, IL to Pana, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Pana, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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