Origin
Mount Prospect, IL
Late night in Mount Prospect on Wednesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mount Prospect, IL to Elmhurst, IL
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
24m
Distance
12 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mount Prospect, IL
Choco Kitty
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mount Prospect, IL to Elmhurst, IL covers 12 miles and takes about 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Elmhurst Road, York Road, North York Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.5 miles on South Elmhurst Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.82 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
6 miles from Mount Prospect, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 24m drive with frequent turns across 12 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
South Elmhurst Road is the longest continuous segment at about 4.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
689 ft
656 ft
Total Climb
38 ft
Total Descent
16 ft
Highest Point
689 ft
~12 mi in
Elevation Range
32 ft
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 early in the drive near West Central Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12 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: near the start (West Central Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles (West 2nd Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Central Road
Turn left onto West Central Road
Navigation decision point
6
11.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
West 2nd Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
11.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
West 2nd Street
Keep slight left at fork onto West 2nd Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
11.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
North Addison Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto North Addison Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
12 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Elmhurst Road | 4.5 mi | 9m |
| York Road | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| North York Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Lincoln Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Addison Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Park Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Elmhurst Road
— 4.5 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Prospect, IL and Elmhurst, IL.
1
Start on this road
52 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto West Central Road
177 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Central Road
3
Turn right onto IL 83
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on IL 83
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
West Lincoln Street
5
Turn slight left onto IL 83
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
South Elmhurst Road
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on South Elmhurst Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Elmhurst Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on York Road
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
York Road
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on North York Street
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North York Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
335 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 2nd Street
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto West 2nd Street
127 ft
·
8 sec
·
West 2nd Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto North Addison Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Addison Avenue
12
Turn right onto Cottage Hill Avenue
230 ft
·
13 sec
·
Cottage Hill Avenue
13
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Park Avenue
14
Turn sharp left
65 ft
·
4 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 6 miles from Mount Prospect, IL, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 12 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elmhurst, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mount Prospect, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mount Prospect, IL
This is one driving day of about 12 miles and 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mount Prospect, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on South Elmhurst Road for about 4.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6 mi from Mount Prospect, IL · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6 miles from Mount Prospect, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elmhurst, IL
The final approach into Elmhurst, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Elmhurst, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.82 one way
$3.65 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.01 | $4.02 |
| premium | $4.80 | $2.27 | $4.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.67 | $5.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.26 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.05 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Elmhurst, IL
Late night in Elmhurst on Wednesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SSW 15 mph
78% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:43PM CDT until April 19 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
24m 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 Mount Prospect, IL to Elmhurst, IL covers 12 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Elmhurst Road, York Road, North York Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6 miles from Mount Prospect, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.82 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 12 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: near the start (West Central Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (West 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles (West 2nd Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Mount Prospect, IL to Elmhurst, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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