Origin
Elmhurst, IL
Afternoon in Elmhurst on Thursday
Local time
4:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, IL to Lakewood, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
37.6 mi
60 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Lakewood, IL
Mike Tyurin
Trip Overview
The drive from Elmhurst, IL to Lakewood, IL covers 37.6 miles and takes about 1h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Northwest Highway, I 290, IL 53 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.3 miles on West Northwest Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 37.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Elmhurst, IL to Lakewood, IL covers 37.6 miles and takes about 1h 1m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Northwest Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.3 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 0.1 miles in near North York Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 12.8 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 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.
6
12.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
15.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward Kirchoff Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Kirchoff Road
6
16.2 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
South Plum Grove Road
Turn right onto South Plum Grove Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
19.8 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
US 14 / West Northwest Highway
Turn left onto US 14 / West Northwest Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Northwest Highway | 16.3 mi | 26m |
| I 290 | 11.1 mi | 14m |
| IL 53 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| South Plum Grove Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| West Colfax Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| North York Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Kirchoff Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Broadway Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
West Northwest Highway
— 16.3 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, IL and Lakewood, 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
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North York Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 290
11 mi
·
14 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward Kirchoff Road
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Kirchoff Road
10
Turn right onto South Plum Grove Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Plum Grove Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto West Colfax Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West Colfax Street
12
Continue on Sterling Avenue
446 ft
·
19 sec
·
Sterling Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 14
16 mi
·
26 min
·
West Northwest Highway
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 14
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
West Virginia Street
15
Turn left onto South Dole Avenue
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Dole Avenue
16
Continue on Lake Shore Drive
509 ft
·
22 sec
·
Lake Shore Drive
17
Continue on Lake Avenue
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Lake Avenue
18
Turn left onto Riverside Drive
305 ft
·
14 sec
·
Riverside Drive
19
Turn right onto Broadway Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Broadway Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.8 mi from Elmhurst, IL · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Elmhurst, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lakewood, IL
The final approach into Lakewood, 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
$5.88 one way
$11.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.45 | $12.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.24 | $14.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.30 | $16.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 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 | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.29 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.26 | $2.41 |
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
Lakewood, IL
Afternoon in Lakewood on Thursday
Local time
4:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
1 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 1m 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 Lakewood, IL covers 37.6 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Northwest Highway, I 290, IL 53. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.8 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 $5.88 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 37.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 12.8 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Elmhurst, IL to Lakewood, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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