Budgeting Your Road Trip: Driving from Downers Grove, Illinois to Lowell, Indiana
Planning a road trip from Downers Grove to Lowell? You’re in luck! With a little insight on routes, distances, time, and costs, you can be well prepared for your adventure. Plus, you’ll have enough information to budget for your trip based on current gas prices.
Route 1: I-55 to I-80 - A Scenic and Direct Route
For those who enjoy a more straightforward drive, taking I-55 to I-80 is a great option. This route is not only scenic but also takes you through some charming midwestern towns along the way.
- Distance: Approximately 50 miles
- Estimated Time: Roughly 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Gas Cost: Assuming a fuel efficiency of 25 miles per gallon and current gas prices around $3.50 per gallon, you'll spend about $7.00 on gas for this journey.
- Tolls: This route includes tolls, which can add around $3.50 to your total cost.
By adding it all together, you're looking at a total cost of $10.50 for this route.
Route 2: I-90 to I-65 - A Bonus of Chicago Sights
If you love a little city action, consider taking the I-90 route, which lets you catch a glimpse of downtown Chicago before heading southwest.
- Distance: About 60 miles
- Estimated Time: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Gas Cost: With the same fuel efficiency of 25 miles per gallon at $3.50 per gallon, your gas cost would be about $8.40.
- Tolls: Given that this route also includes tolls, budget around $5.00 for those.
Putting this all together, your combined travel cost for this route comes to around $13.40. Worth it for a chance to see the Windy City, right?
Route 3: Highway 30 - A Budget-Friendly Choice
Lastly, for those who want to save on both time and cash, Highway 30 provides a less congested and budget-friendly option, although it's a little longer in distance.
- Distance: Approximately 68 miles
- Estimated Time: About 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Gas Cost: Similarly, with the same fuel efficiency at $3.50 per gallon, you'll spend around $9.52 on gas.
- Tolls: The best news? This route has no tolls at all!
So, the grand total for this highway option comes out to be $9.52. That’s a solid choice if you're looking to save some cash without sacrificing too much time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, each route from Downers Grove to Lowell, Indiana, has its own unique benefits and costs. For a direct route, you’re looking at $10.50; if a Chicago detour sounds tempting, prepare to spend about $13.40; and if you want to keep expenses low, the Highway 30 route can get you there for just $9.52.
Now that you have all the information you need, grab your favorite road trip snacks, crank up the tunes, and hit the road! Safe travels!