Origin
Schaumburg, IL
Afternoon in Schaumburg on Friday
Local time
2:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Schaumburg, IL to Downers Grove, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
19.9 mi
32 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Schaumburg, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Downers Grove, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Schaumburg, IL to Downers Grove, IL covers 19.9 miles and takes about 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 355, South Roselle Road, Elgin-O'Hare Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.5 miles on I 355. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 19.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Schaumburg, IL to Downers Grove, IL covers 19.9 miles and takes about 31m, 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 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 355 is the longest continuous segment at about 9.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
801 ft
694 ft
Total Climb
161 ft
Total Descent
203 ft
Highest Point
801 ft
~2.8 mi in
Elevation Range
107 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 19.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
5.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 290: Chicago, Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12
Toward I 290: Chicago, Rockford
7
5.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 290 East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago
8
6.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 355
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
8
16.4 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward IL 56, I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora, Butterfield Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 20-22
Toward IL 56, I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora, Butte...
8
16.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 56: Butterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward IL 56: Butterfield Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Schaumburg, IL and Downers Grove, IL, road signs point toward Rockford and Aurora.
Rockford
5.1 mi in
|
~9m
Aurora
16.4 mi in
|
~23m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 355 | 9.5 mi | 11m |
| South Roselle Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Elgin-O'Hare Tollway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Highland Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Butterfield Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| I 290 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Roselle Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 355
— 9.5 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Schaumburg, IL and Downers Grove, IL.
1
Start on North Pleasant Drive
426 ft
·
20 sec
·
North Pleasant Drive
2
Turn right onto West Thacker Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Thacker Street
3
Turn right onto North Roselle Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Roselle Road
4
Continue on South Roselle Road
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
South Roselle Road
5
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward IL 390 East Toll
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto IL 390
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Elgin-O'Hare Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 12
Toward I 290: Chicago, Rockford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 290 East: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 290
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 290
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
I 355
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 20-22
Toward IL 56, I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora, Butterfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 22
Toward IL 56: Butterfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto IL 56
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Butterfield Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Use the right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
171 ft
·
8 sec
Use the right lane.
16
Turn slight right onto Highland Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Highland Avenue
17
Continue on Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10 mi from Schaumburg, IL · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 19.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10 miles from Schaumburg, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Downers Grove, IL
The final approach into Downers Grove, 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 Downers Grove, 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
$3.02 one way
$6.05 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $3.33 | $6.66 |
| premium | $4.80 | $3.76 | $7.51 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.42 | $8.84 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
Elgin-O'Hare Tollway
(1.8 mi)
$0.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.74 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.79 | $1.27 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Downers Grove, IL
Afternoon in Downers Grove on Friday
Local time
2:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
31m 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 Schaumburg, IL to Downers Grove, IL covers 19.9 miles and takes about 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 355, South Roselle Road, Elgin-O'Hare Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10 miles from Schaumburg, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.02 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 19.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Schaumburg, IL and Downers Grove, IL, road signs point toward Rockford and Aurora.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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