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Trip from Hyde Park, IL to Elgin, IL

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

1h 11m

Distance

47.4 mi

76 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 6m ★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Hyde Park, IL, IL

Hyde Park, IL

Md Mohiul Islam

city in Cook and Kane counties in the northern part of the U.S. state of Illinois

Elgin, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Hyde Park, IL to Elgin, IL covers 47.4 miles and takes about 1h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Kennedy Expressway, Dan Ryan Expressway (Local) for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.6 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.41 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 47.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 11m 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

Expect a 1h 11m drive with frequent turns across 47.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.6 miles.

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 0.1 miles in near South Kenwood Avenue.

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 47.4 miles you will encounter 17 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 (South Kenwood Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles (South LaSalle Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Kenwood Avenue

Turn left onto South Kenwood Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
4.3 mi into trip | ~9m in | South LaSalle Street

Turn right onto South LaSalle Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
4.3 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the ramp toward I 90 West, I 94 West

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I 90 West, I 94 West
7
15.8 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward Montrose Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 43C Toward Montrose Avenue
7
44.5 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in

Take the exit toward IL 25

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 56 Toward IL 25

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway 20.6 mi 22m
Kennedy Expressway 7.9 mi 11m
Dan Ryan Expressway (Local) 3.3 mi 5m
West Higgins Road 3.1 mi 5m
South Cottage Grove Avenue 2.5 mi 4m
Dundee Avenue 2 mi 3m
West Bryn Mawr Avenue 1.8 mi 4m
North Milwaukee Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — 20.6 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hyde Park, IL and Elgin, IL.

1

Start on this road

304 ft · 27 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto South Kenwood Avenue

233 ft · 12 sec · South Kenwood Avenue
3

Turn left onto East 55th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East 55th Street
4

Turn right onto South Cottage Grove Avenue

2.5 mi · 4 min · South Cottage Grove Avenue
5

Turn left onto East 35th Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · East 35th Street
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on West 35th Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · West 35th Street
7

Turn right onto South LaSalle Street

128 ft · 3 sec · South LaSalle Street
Use the right lane.
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9

Merge onto I 90; I 94

3.3 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
Use the slight right lane.
10

Continue on I 90; I 94

7.9 mi · 11 min · Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 43C Toward Montrose Avenue Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Montrose Avenue
13

Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Milwaukee Avenue
14

Turn left onto North Northwest Highway

67 ft · 1 sec · North Northwest Highway
15

Continue on North Northwest Highway

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Northwest Highway
16

Turn slight left onto West Bryn Mawr Avenue

1.8 mi · 4 min · West Bryn Mawr Avenue
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on IL 72

3.1 mi · 5 min · West Higgins Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 90 Toll West
19

Merge onto I 90

21 mi · 22 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

504 ft · 12 sec
Exit 56 Toward IL 25 Use the slight right lane.
21

Continue on this road

0.5 mi · 1 min · this road
Exit 56 Toward IL 25
22

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 17 sec · this road
23

Turn left onto IL 25

2.0 mi · 3 min · Dundee Avenue
Use the left lane.
24

Continue on Center Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Center Street
25

Turn right

311 ft · 28 sec
26

Turn left onto East Chicago Street

117 ft · 3 sec · East Chicago Street
27

Arrive at destination

East Chicago Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 23.7 mi from Hyde Park, IL · 42m into the drive

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States; suburb of Chicago, Illinois

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oak Park, IL

24 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

Chicago, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Des Plaines, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Hyde Park, 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

$7.41 one way

$14.82 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $8.14 $16.27
premium $4.89 $9.12 $18.24
diesel $5.61 $10.47 $20.93

Estimated Tolls: $1.44

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (20.6 mi) $1.44

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Tolls

$1

Total

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.2 0 $4.98 $2.28
Efficient EV 11.9 0 $4.15 $1.90
EV Truck/SUV 19 0 $6.64 $3.03

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Hyde Park, IL

Late night in Hyde Park on Friday

Local time

12:33 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Elgin, IL

Late night in Elgin on Friday

Local time

12:33 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

NW 10 mph 34% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:33PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:29PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

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

18 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 11m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Hyde Park, IL to Elgin, IL covers 47.4 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Kennedy Expressway, Dan Ryan Expressway (Local). Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.7 miles from Hyde Park, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.41 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 47.4 miles you will encounter 17 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 (South Kenwood Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles (South LaSalle Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Hyde Park, IL to Elgin, 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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