Origin
Elmhurst, IL
Evening in Elmhurst on Thursday
Local time
7:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, IL to Coal City, IL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
54.9 mi
88 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Coal City, IL
Braeson Holland
Trip Overview
The drive from Elmhurst, IL to Coal City, IL covers 54.9 miles and takes about 1h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33 miles on Adlai Stevenson Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.58 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 54.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Elmhurst, IL to Coal City, IL covers 54.9 miles and takes about 1h 11m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 33 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 3.4 miles in near I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.4 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
3.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
7
8.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 355 South: Joliet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 131A
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
8
18.2 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12A
Toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
7
18.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Joliet Road South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Joliet Road South
7
18.8 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elmhurst, IL and Coal City, IL, road signs point toward 22Nd Street (Cermak Road), Saint Louis, Joliet Road South and Kankakee.
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
3.4 mi in
|
~7m
|
via I 88; IL 110
Saint Louis
18.2 mi in
|
~25m
Joliet Road South
18.5 mi in
|
~26m
Kankakee
51.9 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 33 mi | 38m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 8.6 mi | 10m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| South York Street | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| East Division Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| South York Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Coal City Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Frontage Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
— 33 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, IL and Coal City, IL.
1
Start on this road
267 ft
·
25 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
51 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
362 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Park Avenue
4
Turn right onto South York Street
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
South York Street
5
Continue on South York Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South York Road
6
Turn right onto Frontage Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Frontage Road
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 88 West, IL 110: West Aurora
8
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 131A
Toward I 355 South: Joliet
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 355
8.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 12A
Toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward Joliet Road South
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 55
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward IL 113: Coal City, Kankakee
16
Turn right onto IL 113
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Coal City Road
17
Continue on IL 113
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Division Street
18
Arrive at destination
IL 113
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.5 mi from Elmhurst, IL · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.5 miles from Elmhurst, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Coal City, IL
The final approach into Coal City, 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
$8.58 one way
$17.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.42 | $18.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.57 | $21.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.12 | $24.24 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.93
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(8.6 mi)
$0.60
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(5.5 mi)
$0.33
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.76 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.69 | $3.51 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Coal City, IL
Evening in Coal City on Thursday
Local time
7:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Woodridge, IL
27 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
19 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 11m 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 Elmhurst, IL to Coal City, IL covers 54.9 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.5 miles from Elmhurst, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.58 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 54.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.4 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Elmhurst, IL and Coal City, IL, road signs point toward 22Nd Street (Cermak Road), Saint Louis, Joliet Road South and Kankakee.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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