Origin
Goodings Grove, IL
Afternoon in Goodings Grove on Friday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Goodings Grove, IL to Elgin, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
43.1 mi
69 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 57m
★
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.
Goodings Grove, IL
Sam McCool
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Goodings Grove to Elgin is 43.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 2 minutes via Veterans Memorial Tollway and Lake Street, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. Expect a fairly direct trip with a mix of highway and local road driving. It’s a straightforward, short journey perfect for a single day trip, with no need for overnight stays.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 43.1 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 route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' indicating you'll navigate several intersections and changes in direction. With 0% highway share, you'll be on local roads for the entire 43.1 miles. The longest continuous stretch without a significant turn or stop is 22.8 miles on the Veterans Memorial Tollway. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires attention to traffic signals and turns.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Veterans Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 22.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in near CH 37 / West 143rd Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 43.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 (CH 37 / West 143rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
CH 37 / West 143rd Street
At end of road, turn right onto CH 37 / West 143rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
5.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
28 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward US 20: Lake Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 31
Toward US 20: Lake Street
5
28.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
43.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
East Chicago Street
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 22.8 mi | 27m |
| Lake Street | 6.6 mi | 11m |
| West Lake Street | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| West 143rd Street | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| Villa Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Chicago Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 22.8 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Goodings Grove, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on CH 37
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
West 143rd Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto CH 37
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 143rd Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn slight right
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Toward I 355 North: West Suburbs
5
Merge onto I 355
23 mi
·
27 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 31
Toward US 20: Lake Street
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn left
113 ft
·
4 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Turn straight onto US 20
5.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Lake Street
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 20
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Street
10
Continue on US 20
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
West Lake Street
11
Continue on US 20
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
12
Turn slight left onto Villa Street
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Villa Street
Toward Villa Street
Use the slight left lane.
13
Turn left
311 ft
·
28 sec
14
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
117 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Chicago Street
15
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.6 mi from Goodings Grove, IL · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Goodings Grove, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elgin, IL
The final approach into Elgin, 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
$6.74 one way
$13.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.40 | $14.80 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.29 | $16.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.52 | $19.03 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.60
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(22.8 mi)
$1.60
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
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Elgin, IL
Afternoon in Elgin on Friday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Bloomingdale, IL
22 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
2 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 Goodings Grove, IL to Elgin, IL covers 43.1 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 Veterans Memorial Tollway, Lake Street, West Lake Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.6 miles from Goodings Grove, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.74 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 43.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 (CH 37 / West 143rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Goodings Grove, IL to Elgin, 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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