Origin
Gurnee, IL
Late night in Gurnee on Friday
Local time
3:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gurnee, IL to Hoffman Estates, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
36.1 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gurnee, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Hoffman Estates, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Gurnee, IL to Hoffman Estates, IL covers 36.1 miles and takes about 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tri-State Tollway, Palatine Road, IL 53 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.5 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.64 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 36.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 50m drive with frequent turns across 36.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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 14.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
784 ft
653 ft
Total Climb
183 ft
Total Descent
75 ft
Highest Point
784 ft
~36.1 mi in
Elevation Range
132 ft
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 16.6 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 36.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
16.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
7
20.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward Willow Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 48
Toward Willow Road
6
20.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 48
8
31 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
7
33.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward IL 72: Higgins Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward IL 72: Higgins Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gurnee, IL to Hoffman Estates, IL, road signs begin pointing toward O'hare along the way.
O'hare
16.6 mi in
|
~21m
|
via I 294
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 14.5 mi | 16m |
| Palatine Road | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| IL 53 | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Waukegan Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| East Higgins Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Higgins Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Skokie Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Willow Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 14.5 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gurnee, IL and Hoffman Estates, IL.
1
Start on North Greenleaf Street
92 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Greenleaf Street
2
Turn right onto IL 132
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Grand Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 41 South: Chicago
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto US 41
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Skokie Highway
5
Turn slight right onto IL 43
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
IL 43
Toward IL 43 South, IL 120 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on Waukegan Road
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Waukegan Road
7
Turn right onto IL 137
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Buckley Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 94 Toll East: Chicago
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 94
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 48
Toward Willow Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 48
13
Turn right onto Willow Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Willow Road
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on Palatine Road
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Palatine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward IL 53 South
16
Merge onto IL 53
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 53
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 1B
Toward IL 72: Higgins Road
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto West Frontage Road
411 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Frontage Road
20
Turn right onto IL 72
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Higgins Road
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on IL 72
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Higgins Road
22
Turn left onto North Roselle Road
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
North Roselle Road
23
Turn left onto Bode Road
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
Bode Road
24
Arrive at destination
Bode Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.1 mi from Gurnee, IL · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.1 miles from Gurnee, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hoffman Estates, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Hoffman Estates, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.64 one way
$11.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.20 | $12.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.95 | $13.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.97 | $15.94 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.87
Tri-state Tollway
(14.5 mi)
$0.87
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 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 | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
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
Hoffman Estates, IL
Late night in Hoffman Estates on Friday
Local time
3:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
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
50m 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 Gurnee, IL to Hoffman Estates, IL covers 36.1 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, Palatine Road, IL 53. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.1 miles from Gurnee, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.64 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 is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 36.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Gurnee, IL to Hoffman Estates, IL, road signs begin pointing toward O'hare along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 653 ft to 784 ft elevation with about 183 ft of total climbing.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Elevation is sampled from USGS 3DEP. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Hoffman Estates, IL
More from Gurnee, IL
More trips to Hoffman Estates, IL
Explore more options from Gurnee, IL or browse trips ending in Hoffman Estates, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.