Origin
West Frankfort, IL
Morning in West Frankfort on Monday
Local time
11:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Frankfort, IL to Elmhurst, IL
Drive Time
5h 47m
Distance
312.3 mi
503 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 34m
★
6 AM
5h 47m
8 AM
6h 13m
10 AM
5h 56m
12 PM
5h 54m
3 PM
5h 58m
5 PM
6h 12m
8 PM
5h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, IL
Pho Tomass
Trip Overview
The drive from West Frankfort, IL to Elmhurst, IL covers 312.3 miles and takes about 5h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, Tri-State Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 185.5 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.44 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
156.2 miles from West Frankfort, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 49m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 47m highway drive covering 312.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 185.5 miles on I 57.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 185.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 99.5 miles in near I 57.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 312.3 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 99.5 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 284.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 285.3 miles: 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.
7
99.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
|
I 57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
284.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m in
Take the exit toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin
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 349-350
Toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevar...
8
285.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 349
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
6
307.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 38m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
308.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 39m in
Take the exit toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 30B
Toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from West Frankfort, IL to Elmhurst, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin along the way.
Wisconsin
284.9 mi in
|
~5h 9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 185.5 mi | 3h 21m |
| Ken Gray Expressway | 98.4 mi | 1h 46m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 21.7 mi | 26m |
| South York Street | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Roosevelt Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South York Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Park Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 185.5 mi, about 3h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Frankfort, IL and Elmhurst, IL.
1
Start on IL 149
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
2
Enter roundabout
20 ft
·
0 sec
3
Continue
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
4
Merge onto I 57
31 mi
·
33 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
67 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57
185 mi
·
3 hr 21 min
·
I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 349-350
Toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
1.8 mi
·
3 min
Exit 349
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 294
21 mi
·
25 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 30B
Toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto IL 38
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Roosevelt Road
Use the right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward North York Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto South York Road
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
South York Road
15
Continue on South York Street
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
South York Street
16
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
38 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Park Avenue
17
Turn slight right
65 ft
·
4 sec
18
Arrive at 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 156.2 miles from West Frankfort, IL, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.5 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 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.2 miles or 2h 49m 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 38m
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 West Frankfort, 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 West Frankfort, IL
This is one driving day of about 312.3 miles and 5h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Frankfort, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 185.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 156.2 mi from West Frankfort, IL · 2h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
156 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 156.2 miles from West Frankfort, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 185.5 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.44 one way
$94.87 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
109 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $52.29 | $104.58 |
| premium | $4.80 | $58.96 | $117.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $69.38 | $138.76 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.30
Tri-state Tollway
(21.7 mi)
$1.30
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.7 | 1 | $32.79 | $14.99 |
| Efficient EV | 78.1 | 0 | $27.33 | $12.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.9 | 1 | $43.72 | $19.99 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Elmhurst, IL
Morning in Elmhurst on Monday
Local time
11:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 15 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
18 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 47m 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 West Frankfort, IL to Elmhurst, IL covers 312.3 miles and takes about 5h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, Tri-State Tollway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 156.2 miles from West Frankfort, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.44 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 312.3 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 99.5 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 284.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 285.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from West Frankfort, IL to Elmhurst, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin along the way.
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