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Trip from Somerset, IL to Elk Grove, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 52m

Distance

360.2 mi

580 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$56

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 39m ★
6 AM
5h 52m
8 AM
6h 18m
10 AM
6h 1m
12 PM
5h 59m
3 PM
6h 2m
5 PM
6h 17m
8 PM
5h 44m

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

Downtown Somerset, IL, IL

Somerset, IL

Boys in Bristol Photography

Downtown Elk Grove, IL, IL

Elk Grove, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Somerset, IL to Elk Grove, IL covers 360.2 miles and takes about 5h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Deneal Road, South Commercial Street, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.31 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

180.1 miles from Somerset, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 52m drive with frequent turns across 360.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Deneal Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 52m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Somerset, IL to Elk Grove, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Deneal Road
South Commercial Street
North Main Street
Public Square
West Main Street
Ken Gray Expressway
I 57 North
I 294

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Deneal Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Somerset, IL and Elk Grove, IL.

1

Start on Somerset Road

115 ft · 12 sec · Somerset Road
2

Turn sharp left onto Deneal Road

1.2 mi · 4 min · Deneal Road
3

Continue on Deneal Road

1.4 mi · 5 min · Deneal Road
4

At the end of the road, turn right

2.8 mi · 3 min
5

Continue straight

5.9 mi · 9 min
6

At the end of the road, turn right onto South Commercial Street

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Commercial Street
7

Turn left

0.6 mi · 51 sec
8

Take the exit slight right

174 ft · 5 sec
9

Turn slight right onto North Main Street

32 mi · 47 min · North Main Street
10

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Public Square

407 ft · 10 sec · Public Square
11

Exit the rotary onto West Main Street

0.6 mi · 55 sec · West Main Street
12

Take the ramp slight right

0.3 mi · 41 sec
13

Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

24 mi · 26 min · Ken Gray Expressway
14

Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

67 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Ken Gray Expressway
15

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

185 mi · 3 hr 21 min · I 57 North: Chicago
16

Take the exit slight right toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin

0.3 mi · 33 sec · IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin
17

Keep slight right to continue on I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

1.8 mi · 3 min · I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
18

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

21 mi · 25 min · Tri-State Tollway
19

Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway
20

Take the exit slight right toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago

322 ft · 8 sec · I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago
21

Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway
22

Keep slight left to continue on I 290 West: Rockford

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 290 West: Rockford
23

Keep slight left to continue on Saint Charles Road West

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Saint Charles Road West
24

Merge slight left

1.9 mi · 2 min
25

Take the exit slight right toward US 20 West, IL 64 West: Lake Street, York Road

0.1 mi · 16 sec · US 20 West, IL 64 West: Lake Street, York Road
26

Keep slight right to continue on York Road

0.2 mi · 29 sec · York Road
27

Turn left onto North York Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · North York Street
28

Continue on South York Road

4.3 mi · 7 min · South York Road
29

Continue on South Elmhurst Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Elmhurst Road
30

Continue on South Elmhurst Road

522 ft · 27 sec · South Elmhurst Road
31

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.1 miles from Somerset, IL, or about 2h 56m into the drive.

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 79 miles or 1h 17m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 180.1 miles or 2h 56m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elk Grove, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Somerset, 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 Somerset, IL

This is one driving day of about 360.2 miles and 5h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Somerset, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 180.1 mi from Somerset, IL · 2h 56m into the drive

city in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mattoon, IL

180 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

Frankfort, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 79 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mattoon, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 180.1 miles from Somerset, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Elk Grove, IL

The final approach into Elk 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 Elk 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

$56.31 one way

$112.63 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 126 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $61.83 $123.66
premium $4.89 $69.32 $138.63
diesel $5.61 $79.53 $159.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$56

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$81–$106

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 126 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 108.1 1 $37.82 $17.29
Efficient EV 90.1 1 $31.52 $14.41
EV Truck/SUV 144.1 1 $50.43 $23.05

Gas CO2

126 kg

EV CO2

42 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 15, 2026

Origin

Somerset, IL

Night in Somerset on Wednesday

Local time

10:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Elk Grove, IL

Night in Elk Grove on Wednesday

Local time

10:00 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

5 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

5h 52m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Somerset, IL to Elk Grove, IL covers 360.2 miles and takes about 5h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Deneal Road, South Commercial Street, North Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 180.1 miles from Somerset, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 52m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Somerset, IL to Elk Grove, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Somerset, IL to Elk Grove, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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