Origin
Elk Grove, IL
Afternoon in Elk Grove on Thursday
Local time
12:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elk Grove, IL to University Park, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
54m
Distance
36.4 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elk Grove, IL
Wikimedia Commons
University Park, IL
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
The drive from Elk Grove, IL to University Park, IL covers 36.4 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 York Road, North York Street, Lake Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 36.4 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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 54m drive with frequent turns across 36.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
York Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Elk Grove, IL to University Park, IL is easy. At 54m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Elk Grove, IL to University Park, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| York Road | — | — |
| North York Street | — | — |
| Lake Street | — | — |
| I 290 East | — | — |
| I 88 West | — | — |
| Tri-State Tollway | — | — |
| Mile-Long Bridge | — | — |
| US 6 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
York Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elk Grove, IL and University Park, IL.
1
Start on South Elmhurst Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Elmhurst Road
2
Continue on York Road
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
York Road
3
Continue on North York Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North York Street
4
Turn right onto Lake Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Lake Street
5
Turn slight right
148 ft
·
8 sec
6
Take the ramp right toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
9
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
10
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
138 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
11
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
12
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
13
Continue on Mile-Long Bridge
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mile-Long Bridge
14
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 6: 159th Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 6: 159th Street
16
Keep slight right to continue on US 6 West: 159th Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 6 West: 159th Street
17
Turn straight onto West 159th Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
West 159th Street
18
Turn left onto Richmond Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Richmond Avenue
19
Continue on Richmond Avenue
279 ft
·
16 sec
·
Richmond Avenue
20
Turn left onto Sussex Avenue
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Sussex Avenue
21
Continue on California Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
California Avenue
22
Turn right onto Lancaster Drive
131 ft
·
6 sec
·
Lancaster Drive
23
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.2 mi from Elk Grove, IL · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from Elk Grove, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in University Park, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into University Park, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.69 one way
$11.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.25 | $12.50 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.00 | $14.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.04 | $16.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
University Park, IL
Afternoon in University Park on Thursday
Local time
12:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Elmhurst, IL
18 mi in
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
17 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
54m 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 Elk Grove, IL to University Park, IL covers 36.4 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are York Road, North York Street, Lake Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.2 miles from Elk Grove, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.69 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.
The drive from Elk Grove, IL to University Park, IL is easy. At 54m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Elk Grove, IL to University Park, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Elk Grove, IL to University Park, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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