Commute Estimates? Crystal Lake to Hoffman Estates (Algonquin: home, theater)

[firstnamebasis2014]

Does anyone have any recent experience with a daily commute from the Crystal Lake area to western Hoffman Estates, namely to the Higgins & 59 intersection, around 6:30-7am and back around 5-5:30pm?

Google Maps shows it around 25-30 minutes without traffic, but Trulia's commute estimator puts the time around 55-60 minutes. I've heard that both Randall and Algonquin are very congested in rush hour, but heading down 31 looks like it would avoid both of those besides a 1 mile stretch on Algonquin and I can't imagine it taking an hour unless there was severe weather or an accident.

This is a pretty specific question, but hopefully someone out there can help answer it instead of having to rely on Google's traffic estimates at different times.

Thanks!

[maddog49]

Assuming good weather (double or triple during bad) 31 would probably take you around 40 minutes. The google estimates are actually fairly close within 5 minutes of actual I would say. You could dramatically shorten your commute if you could leave at 5:45 and leave for home around 4:15. Then I would probably be 30 minutes each way and save you a hour a day. I live in the area and drive your areas frequently at different times.

[pvande55]

45 minutes on a good day.

[knitgirl]

There's also an app called Waze that I have used. It's pretty cool, updates while you are driving and will change the route for you if something happens ahead.

[smullick]

Watch out for the 1 by 1 lane roads around the area - and consider snow time commute. You are safer on 4 (2+2) lane roads, and able to go around stuck cars.

[Buzz Bee]

There are a couple of ways that you can take, but generally, Route 62 to Route 59 to Route 72. Right now, if you go this way, you will run into the Algonquin Bypass construction, which will eventually ease congestion at 31 & 62. There are a couple of alternates, like 62 to 31 to 68 to 72 (not really ideal, but doable), 62 to Old Sutton to 72, this comes to a light at 72 that takes you into the Poplar Creek complex, if that is your destination (this crosses Rte 68 which is a somewhat dangerous intersection, and there is a train track that occasionally has freight traffic on it, again, not ideal. I used to take this shortcut when I went to concerts at Poplar Creek music theater. A moment of silence for the late, great Poplar Creek).

Basically, Route 62 (Algonquin Road) is 2 lanes until south east of 31, it turns into 1 lane, that shouldn't bottleneck too badly in the morning, but that bridge over the Fox is notorious in the winter. Route 59 is one lane between 62 and 72, but it moves. 31 is 1 lane almost the entire way between 62 & 72 (until right by Springhill Mall) and it will get very backed up on your way home (at least until the bypass construction is done, maybe this fall. cough cough).

You will probably find that your morning commute is better than the way home, any way you take.