Elgin, IL Road Trips
Drivers starting from Elgin, IL have 41 mapped routes to choose from, making it a small but connected base in the Midwest. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 264 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Elgin, IL head south, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
41
Longest Drive
370.5 mi
Anna, IL
Quickest Drive
3h 13m
Empire, IL
Plan Around Elgin, IL
Continue From Elgin, IL
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Elgin, IL
Elgin, IL to Anna, IL
Elgin, IL to Campton, IL
Elgin, IL to Cambria, IL
Elgin, IL to Carmi, IL
Elgin, IL to Beckemeyer, IL
Elgin, IL to Brooklyn, IL
Elgin, IL to Newport, IL
Elgin, IL to Trenton, IL
Elgin, IL to Fairmont City, IL
Elgin, IL to Nameoki, IL
Elgin, IL to Godfrey, IL
Elgin, IL to Alton, IL
Elgin, IL to Maryville, IL
Elgin, IL to Highland, IL
Elgin, IL to Rosewood Heights, IL
Elgin, IL to City of Greenville, IL
Elgin, IL to Moro, IL
Elgin, IL to Edwardsville, IL
Driving from Elgin, IL
The typical drive from Elgin, IL covers about 264 miles and takes around 5h 8m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 371 miles (7h 1m), while the shortest is just 156 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Elgin, IL most often head toward Anna, IL (370.5 mi, 7h 1m), Campton, IL (349.9 mi, 6h 52m), Cambria, IL (347.5 mi, 6h 40m), Carmi, IL (319.2 mi, 6h 46m), and Beckemeyer, IL (304.1 mi, 5h 52m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in IL currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 264-mile trip from Elgin, IL, budget about $39 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring. The majority of destinations are to the south. Morning starts help you avoid the midday heat on longer drives.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 41 mapped routes leaving Elgin, IL and 0 routes heading into Elgin, IL, covering 41 total connections. Distances range from 156 to 371 miles.
The longest mapped route from Elgin, IL covers 371 miles and takes approximately 7h 1m. Shorter options start at just 156 miles.
The average route from Elgin, IL runs about 264 miles with a drive time of roughly 5h 8m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 264-mile trip from Elgin, IL costs roughly $39 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Elgin, IL include Anna, IL, Campton, IL, Cambria, IL and Carmi, IL. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Elgin, IL by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
114,106
Median Income
$88,316
Median Home Value
$252,400
Median Age
36.3
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Elgin, IL at a Glance
Founded
1854
Elevation
745 ft
Area
38 mi²
Notable People from Elgin, IL
A sampling of people born in Elgin, IL.
Bruce Boxleitner
1950
American actor, science fiction and suspense writer (born 1950)
David Otunga
1980
American professional wrestler
Jim Gaffigan
1966
American comedian, actor, and author
Donella Meadows
1941–2001
American environmental scientist, teacher, and writer (1941–2001)
Peter Fitzgerald
1960
American politician
Harry Chamberlin
1887–1944
Equestrian and US Army brigadier general (1887–1944)
Jessica Mink
1951
American astronomer and theoretical computing
Brian Oldfield
1945–2017
American shot putter (1945–2017)
William LeBaron
1883–1958
American film producer (1883–1958)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Elgin, IL.
Elgin Tower Building
building in Illinois, United States
Elgin Downtown Commercial District
City data from Wikidata (Q499887), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Elgin, IL
Elgin is a city in Chicagoland known for its Victorian architecture and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.
1 Elgin Public Museum, 225 Grand Blvd, ☏ +1 847-741-6655, [email protected]. (updated Nov 2021) 2 Elgin Fire Barn No. 5 Museum, 533 St Charles St, ☏ +1 847 697 6242. (updated Nov 2020) 3 Elgin Tower Building, 100 E Chicago St. (updated Nov 2020)
1 Grand Victoria Casino, 250 South Grove Avenue, ☏ +1 847-468-7000. (updated Nov 2016) 2 Wing Park Golf Course, 1000 Wing St, ☏ +1 847-931-5952. 9 holes $19 weekdays, $16 junior/senior weekdays, $21 weekend, golf cart rental $10. (updated Nov 2021)
Plank Road Tap Room, 39W149 Plank Rd. (updated Nov 2021)
Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago Northwest - Elgin, 495 Airport Rd, ☏ +1-847-488-9000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. (updated Nov 2021)
1 Elgin railway station, 109 West Chicago St. (updated Nov 2020) 2 National Street railway station, 85 National St. (updated Nov 2020)
Travel tips adapted from Elgin (Illinois) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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