Origin
Elmhurst, IL
Afternoon in Elmhurst on Friday
Local time
12:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, IL to Watseka, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
93.1 mi
150 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 58m
★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Watseka, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Elmhurst, IL to Watseka, IL covers 93.1 miles and takes about 2h 6m 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, East Saint Charles Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.56 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.
Midpoint
46.6 miles from Elmhurst, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 93.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 6m drive with frequent turns across 93.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Park Avenue 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 Elmhurst, IL to Watseka, IL is easy. At 2h 6m 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 Watseka, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Park Avenue | — | — |
| South York Street | — | — |
| East Saint Charles Road | — | — |
| I 290 East | — | — |
| I 88 West | — | — |
| Tri-State Tollway | — | — |
| Mile-Long Bridge | — | — |
| IL 50 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Park Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, IL and Watseka, IL.
1
Start on the route
266 ft
·
25 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left
49 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
361 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Park Avenue
4
Turn right onto South York Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South York Street
5
Turn left onto East Saint Charles Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Saint Charles Road
6
Take the ramp slight right toward I 290 East
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 290 East
7
Merge slight left
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
8
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
9
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
10
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
11
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
138 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
12
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
13
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
14
Continue on Mile-Long Bridge
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mile-Long Bridge
15
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
16
Take the exit slight right toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
17
Keep slight left to continue on IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
18
Turn straight onto Cicero Avenue
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Cicero Avenue
19
Turn left onto 167th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
167th Street
20
Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
21
Merge slight left
34 mi
·
38 min
22
Take the exit slight right toward IL 17: Kankakee, Momence
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
IL 17: Kankakee, Momence
23
Turn straight onto East Court Street
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
East Court Street
24
Continue on South State Route 1
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
South State Route 1
25
Continue on North Dixie Highway
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
North Dixie Highway
26
Turn right onto E 7000S Road
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
E 7000S Road
27
Continue on S 7000E Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
S 7000E Road
28
Continue on North 2100 E Road
15 mi
·
22 min
·
North 2100 E Road
29
Continue on North 2100 East Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2100 East Road
30
At the end of the road, turn left onto West Walnut Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Walnut Street
31
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.6 miles from Elmhurst, IL, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
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 20 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.6 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Watseka, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 93.1 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Elmhurst, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.6 mi from Elmhurst, IL · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 46.6 miles from Elmhurst, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Watseka, IL
The final approach into Watseka, 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 Watseka, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.56 one way
$29.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.98 | $31.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.92 | $35.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.56 | $41.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.78 | $4.47 |
| Efficient EV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.15 | $3.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.2 | 0 | $13.03 | $5.96 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Destination
Watseka, IL
Afternoon in Watseka on Friday
Local time
12:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 6m 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 Watseka, IL covers 93.1 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Park Avenue, South York Street, East Saint Charles Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.6 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 $14.56 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 Elmhurst, IL to Watseka, IL is easy. At 2h 6m 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 Elmhurst, IL to Watseka, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Elmhurst, IL to Watseka, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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