Origin
Long Lake, IL
Afternoon in Long Lake on Thursday
Local time
4:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Long Lake, IL to Elgin, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
49m
Distance
31.1 mi
50 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Lake, IL
Sean Ewing
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Long Lake, IL to Elgin, IL covers 31.1 miles and takes about 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 12, IL 59, New Sutton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.3 miles on US 12. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.86 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 31.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Long Lake, IL to Elgin, IL covers 31.1 miles and takes about 49m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 12 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Augustana Avenue.
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 31.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 (North Augustana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 10.8 miles (IL 59): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Augustana Avenue
Turn left onto North Augustana Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
10.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
IL 59
Take the exit onto IL 59
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
28.2 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
5
31 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
31.1 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
East Chicago Street
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| IL 59 | 7.8 mi | 12m |
| New Sutton Road | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| West Big Hollow Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Dundee Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Augustana Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Center Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 8.3 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Lake, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on North Rock Island Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Rock Island Street
2
Turn left onto North Augustana Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Augustana Avenue
3
Continue on North Augustana Avenue
177 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Augustana Avenue
4
Turn right onto IL 134
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Big Hollow Road
5
Turn left onto US 12; IL 59
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12; IL 59
6
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
8
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
9
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
10
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
11
Continue on US 12; IL 59
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 12; IL 59
12
Take the exit onto IL 59
7.8 mi
·
12 min
·
IL 59
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn slight right
284 ft
·
4 sec
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on IL 59
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
New Sutton Road
Use the left lane.
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
16
Merge onto I 90
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
17
Take the exit
504 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
Use the slight right lane.
18
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
19
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
this road
20
Turn left onto IL 25
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Dundee Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on Center Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Center Street
22
Turn right
311 ft
·
28 sec
23
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
117 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Chicago Street
24
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.5 mi from Long Lake, IL · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.5 miles from Long Lake, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elgin, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Elgin, 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
$4.86 one way
$9.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.34 | $10.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.98 | $11.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.87 | $13.73 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.20
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(2.8 mi)
$0.20
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.27 | $1.49 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.72 | $1.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 Thursday
Local time
4:01 PM
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
17 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
49m 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 Long Lake, IL to Elgin, IL covers 31.1 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 12, IL 59, New Sutton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.5 miles from Long Lake, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.86 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 31.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 (North Augustana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 10.8 miles (IL 59): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Long Lake, IL to Elgin, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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