Origin
Kenwood, IL
Late night in Kenwood on Friday
Local time
3:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kenwood, 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 8m
Distance
46.1 mi
74 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kenwood, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Kenwood, IL to Elgin, IL covers 46.1 miles and takes about 1h 8m 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 $7.21 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 46.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m 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 8m drive with frequent turns across 46.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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 2 miles in near East 35th Street.
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 46.1 miles you will encounter 16 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 2 miles (East 35th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (South LaSalle Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
East 35th Street
Turn left onto East 35th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
South LaSalle Street
Turn right onto South LaSalle Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
3 mi into trip
|
~6m 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
14.4 mi into trip
|
~23m 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
43.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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 |
| Dundee Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| West Bryn Mawr Avenue | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| South Cottage Grove Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 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 Kenwood, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on East 47th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 47th Street
2
Turn right onto South Cottage Grove Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cottage Grove Avenue
3
Turn left onto East 35th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East 35th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on West 35th Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 35th Street
5
Turn right onto South LaSalle Street
128 ft
·
3 sec
·
South LaSalle Street
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto I 90; I 94
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 90; I 94
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 43C
Toward Montrose Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto West Montrose Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Montrose Avenue
11
Turn right onto North Milwaukee Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
12
Turn left onto North Northwest Highway
67 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Northwest Highway
13
Continue on North Northwest Highway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Northwest Highway
14
Turn slight left onto West Bryn Mawr Avenue
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West Bryn Mawr Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on IL 72
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
West Higgins Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 90 Toll West
17
Merge onto I 90
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
504 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
Use the slight right lane.
19
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
20
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
this road
21
Turn left onto IL 25
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Dundee Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on Center Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Center Street
23
Turn right
311 ft
·
28 sec
24
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
117 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Chicago Street
25
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23 mi from Kenwood, IL · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23 miles from Kenwood, 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
$7.21 one way
$14.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.91 | $15.83 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.87 | $17.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
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: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Elgin, IL
Late night in Elgin on Friday
Local time
3:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
9 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 8m 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 Kenwood, IL to Elgin, IL covers 46.1 miles and takes about 1h 8m 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 miles from Kenwood, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.21 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 46.1 miles you will encounter 16 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 2 miles (East 35th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (South LaSalle Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Kenwood, 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 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. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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