Drive Time
3h 39m
Distance
192.1 mi
309 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
Photo: Tommes Frites
The drive from Elmhurst, IL to Clear Lake, IL covers 192.1 miles and takes about 3h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Park Avenue, South York Street, South York Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.18 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
96 miles from Elmhurst, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 39m drive with frequent turns across 192.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Elmhurst, IL to Clear Lake, IL is easy. At 3h 39m 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 Elmhurst, IL to Clear Lake, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Park Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South York Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South York Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Frontage Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 88 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 355 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, IL and Clear Lake, IL.
Start on the route
Turn left
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
Turn right onto South York Street
Continue on South York Road
Turn right onto Frontage Road
Take the ramp left toward I 88 West, IL 110: West Aurora
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Take the exit slight right toward I 355 South: Joliet
Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway
Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
Keep slight left to continue on Joliet Road South
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Take the exit slight right toward IL 54 East: Clinton
Turn straight onto East Sangamon Avenue
Turn slight right onto Camp Butler Road
Continue on South Camp Butler Road
At the end of the road, turn right onto Old Route 36
Turn left onto North Dixon Street
Turn left onto West Houston Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96 miles or 1h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clear Lake, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Elmhurst, 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 Elmhurst, IL
This is one driving day of about 192.1 miles and 3h 39m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 96 mi from Elmhurst, IL · 1h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 96 miles from Elmhurst, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Clear Lake, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Clear Lake, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$29.18 one way
$58.36 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $32.17 | $64.33 |
| premium | $4.80 | $36.26 | $72.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $42.68 | $85.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.6 | 0 | $20.17 | $9.22 |
| Efficient EV | 48 | 0 | $16.81 | $7.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.8 | 0 | $26.89 | $12.29 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Elmhurst on Saturday
Local time
6:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Clear Lake on Saturday
Local time
6:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
53°F
Normal, IL
96 mi in
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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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