How far is Elgin, IL from Lake Forest, IL?
The driving distance from Elgin, IL to Lake Forest, IL is about 40.6 miles (65.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 58m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 27.3 miles (43.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 00h 58m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States; suburb of Chicago, Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Elgin and Lake Forest.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin and Lake Forest.
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1
Start on East Chicago Street
10 m · 8 sec · East Chicago Street
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2
Turn left onto Center Street
846 ft · 24 sec · Center Street
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3
Continue on Dundee Avenue
1.2 mi · 2 min · Dundee Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Page Avenue
612 ft · 18 sec · Page Avenue
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5
Turn straight onto North Liberty Street
905 ft · 20 sec · North Liberty Street
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6
Continue on Dundee Avenue
2862 ft · 50 sec · Dundee Avenue
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7
Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 Toll West, I 90 Toll East: Rockford, Chicago
765 ft · 19 sec
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8
Continue on I 90 West, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
148 m · 12 sec
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9
Keep slight right to continue on I 90 Toll East: Chicago
2012 ft · 49 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
10.7 mi · 11 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs
2618 ft · 1 min
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12
Keep slight left to continue on IL 53 North: Northwest Suburbs
1584 ft · 19 sec
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13
Continue on IL 53 North: Northwest Suburbs
1066 ft · 18 sec
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14
Keep slight right to continue on IL 53 North: Northwest Suburbs
1781 ft · 51 sec
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15
Merge slight left
4.1 mi · 5 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward East Palatine Road
2489 ft · 1 min
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17
Merge slight left onto Palatine Road
6 mi · 9 min · Palatine Road
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18
Continue on Willow Road
1.3 km · 2 min · Willow Road
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19
Turn sharp left onto I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
117 m · 11 sec
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20
Keep slight right to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin
2066 ft · 50 sec
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21
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
9.2 mi · 11 min · Tri-State Tollway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward IL 60: Town Line Road
2941 ft · 58 sec
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23
Turn straight onto East Townline Road
2448 ft · 52 sec · East Townline Road
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24
Continue on Townline Road
1.6 km · 2 min · Townline Road
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25
Continue on W Kennedy Road
2498 ft · 49 sec · W Kennedy Road
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26
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Skokie Highway
1396 ft · 30 sec · South Skokie Highway
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27
Take the exit slight right
1302 ft · 38 sec
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28
Turn right onto West Deerpath
1.2 mi · 3 min · West Deerpath
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29
Turn left onto North McKinley Road
2419 ft · 52 sec · North McKinley Road
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30
Turn slight right onto East Woodland Road
62 m · 7 sec · East Woodland Road
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31
Turn slight left onto Griffith Road
22 m · 3 sec · Griffith Road
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Griffith Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Elgin and Lake Forest.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
10.7 mi · 00h 11m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Mostly Sunny leaving Elgin and Mostly Sunny near Lake Forest.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Elgin to Lake Forest?
The road trip is about 40.6 miles (65.3 km) and usually takes 00h 58m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Arlington Heights is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.3 miles from Elgin and 20.3 miles from Lake Forest.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 27.3 miles (43.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:34 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.39 one way or $10.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Elgin and Mostly Sunny near Lake Forest.
Stop Ideas Near Arlington Heights
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Arlington Heights.
Glenview station
La Grange Road
Summit
Naperville
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and Lake Forest. Straight-line distance: 27.27 mi (43.88 km).
#1 Elgin
The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.
| Population | 110,196 |
| Coordinates | 42.0372500, -88.2811900 |
| Altitude | 227 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lake Forest
City in Lake County, Illinois, United States
| Population | 19,379 |
| Coordinates | 42.2586300, -87.8406300 |
| Altitude | 210 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lake Forest (-87.84063, 42.25863)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 65 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 21m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 01h 00m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 48m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 40m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 34m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 30m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $5.39 | $10.79 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $6.08 | $12.16 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $6.66 | $13.31 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $7.58 | $15.17 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Illinois · Apr 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.