Origin
Elmhurst, IL
Morning in Elmhurst on Saturday
Local time
8:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, IL to Lake Villa, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
46 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Lake Villa, IL
Lovedeep Singh
Trip Overview
Elmhurst, IL to Lake Villa, IL is 46 miles and takes about 1 hour 2 minutes via Tri-State Tollway and Grand Avenue, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, offering a straightforward trip between suburban areas. Expect a local feel for much of this route, which can be a nice change of pace from longer highway journeys. It's a manageable distance, perfect for a day trip or an easy leg of a larger adventure.
About the Cities
Starting in Elmhurst, IL
Full guide →Elmhurst is in Chicagoland.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 46 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This journey is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with a highway share of 0%, meaning you'll primarily navigate surface streets and main roads. While there's a longest stretch of 35.4 miles on the Tri-State Tollway, the overall profile suggests frequent intersections and changes in direction. You'll experience a more engaged driving experience, requiring your attention to traffic signals and local road conditions rather than simply cruising on an interstate. The route involves key roads like Grand Avenue and East North Avenue, contributing to its local character.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 35.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North York Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (North York Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North York Street
Turn left onto North York Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
7
37.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B-A
Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
7
37.8 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
9
38.2 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 8A
Toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 35.4 mi | 43m |
| Grand Avenue | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| East North Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North York Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| US 20 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Milwaukee Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Park Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 35.4 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, IL and Lake Villa, 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
·
17 sec
·
West Park Avenue
4
Turn left onto North York Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North York Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto IL 64
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East North Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn slight right onto US 20
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 20
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 294
35 mi
·
43 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 8B-A
Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
this road
Exit 8
Toward IL 132: Grand Avenue
12
Keep slight right at fork
289 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 8A
Toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
this road
Exit 8A
Toward IL 132 West: Grand Avenue
14
Turn straight onto IL 132
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto IL 83
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
16
Turn right
64 ft
·
3 sec
17
Turn right
115 ft
·
5 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23 mi from Elmhurst, IL · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23 miles from Elmhurst, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lake Villa, IL
The final approach into Lake Villa, 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
$7.19 one way
$14.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.90 | $15.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.85 | $17.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.16 | $20.31 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.12
Tri-state Tollway
(35.4 mi)
$2.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Lake Villa, IL
Morning in Lake Villa on Saturday
Local time
8:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 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 2m 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 Lake Villa, IL covers 46 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, Grand Avenue, East North Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23 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 $7.19 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 46 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (North York Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Elmhurst, IL to Lake Villa, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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