The drive from Germantown Hills, IL to Elmhurst, IL covers 144 miles and takes about 3h 5m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, East State Street, Kingery Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87.6 miles on I 55.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.51 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
72 miles from Germantown Hills, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 144 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 5m highway drive covering 144 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and East State Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 87.6 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 87.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and East State Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in near Tazewood Road.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 144 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.4 miles (Tazewood Road): Navigation decision point; at 131.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.4 mi into trip|~7m in|Tazewood Road
At end of road, turn left onto Tazewood Road
Navigation decision point
7
131.1 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward IL 83: Kingery Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 274
Toward IL 83: Kingery Road
8
131.3 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road
8
131.5 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road North
6
143.4 mi into trip|~3h 4m in|South York Street
Turn left onto South York Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
87.6 mi
1h 38m
East State Street
11.8 mi
17m
Kingery Highway
10.4 mi
15m
West Main Street
9.2 mi
14m
East 3100 North Road
7 mi
9m
Boyd Parkway
6.9 mi
10m
Nofsinger Road
3.8 mi
6m
State Route 116
2.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 87.6 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Germantown Hills, IL and Elmhurst, IL.
1
Start on IL 116
0.3 mi·33 sec·State Route 116
2
Continue on IL 116
2.2 mi·4 min·State Route 116
3
Turn right onto Nofsinger Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Nofsinger Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto Tazewood Road
73 ft·4 sec·Tazewood Road
5
Turn right onto Nofsinger Road
1.8 mi·3 min·Nofsinger Road
6
Turn left onto US 24
6.9 mi·10 min·Boyd Parkway
7
Continue on US 24
2.0 mi·3 min·West Center Street
8
Continue on US 24
12 mi·17 min·East State Street
9
Continue on US 24
9.2 mi·14 min·West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 24
7.0 mi·9 min·East 3100 North Road
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 55 North: Joliet
12
Merge onto I 55
88 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 274Toward IL 83: Kingery RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road NorthUse the right lane.
16
Continue on IL 83
10 mi·15 min·Kingery Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
338 ft·9 sec
18
Turn slight right onto West Saint Charles Road
1.1 mi·2 min·West Saint Charles Road
19
Turn left onto South York Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South York Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
38 ft·3 sec·West Park Avenue
21
Turn slight right
65 ft·4 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72 miles from Germantown Hills, IL, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.6 miles.
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 32 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72 miles or 1h 38m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elmhurst, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Germantown Hills, 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 Germantown Hills, IL
This is one driving day of about 144 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Germantown Hills, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 87.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72 mi from Germantown Hills, IL
· 1h 38m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 134.1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.2
0
$15.12
$6.91
Efficient EV
36
0
$12.60
$5.76
EV Truck/SUV
57.6
0
$20.16
$9.22
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Germantown Hills, IL
Afternoon
in Germantown Hills on Friday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elmhurst, IL
Afternoon
in Elmhurst on Friday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 5m 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 Germantown Hills, IL to Elmhurst, IL covers 144 miles and takes about 3h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, East State Street, Kingery Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72 miles from Germantown Hills, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.51 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 144 miles you will encounter 11 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 4.4 miles (Tazewood Road): Navigation decision point; at 131.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Germantown Hills, IL to Elmhurst, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
