Origin
Antioch, IL
Late night in Antioch on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Antioch, IL to Elgin, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
38.1 mi
61 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Antioch, IL
Mike Tyurin
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Antioch, IL to Elgin, IL is 38.1 miles and takes about 1 hour via IL 59 and US 12, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive within the Midwest, taking you across Illinois. Expect a highway-focused experience that makes for a quick trip, perfect for a single day. If you're looking for a simple, direct connection between these two locations, this route offers exactly that, with minimal fuss and a predictable journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 59 | 18.8 mi | 30m |
| US 12 | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| New Sutton Road | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Dundee Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| Lake Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Center Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Chicago Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
IL 59
— 18.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Antioch, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on IL 83
6 ft
·
5 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto Lake Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Street
3
Continue on IL 59
11 mi
·
17 min
·
IL 59
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
6
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
7
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
8
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
9
Continue on US 12; IL 59
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 12; IL 59
10
Take the exit onto IL 59
7.8 mi
·
12 min
·
IL 59
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight right
284 ft
·
4 sec
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on IL 59
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
New Sutton Road
Use the left lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
14
Merge onto I 90
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
15
Take the exit
504 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
17
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
this road
18
Turn left onto IL 25
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Dundee Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on Center Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Center Street
20
Turn right
311 ft
·
28 sec
21
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
117 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Chicago Street
22
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.1 miles from Antioch, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 17.8 and 38.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
17.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
IL 59
Take the exit onto IL 59
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
35.2 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward IL 25
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 56
Toward IL 25
4
35.9 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
IL 25 / Dundee Avenue
Turn left onto IL 25 / Dundee Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
38 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
38.1 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
East Chicago Street
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.96 one way
$11.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.54 | $13.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.33 | $14.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.41 | $16.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.20
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(2.8 mi)
$0.20
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.33 | $2.44 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Elgin, IL
Late night in Elgin on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 66% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 18.8 miles on IL 59, offering a consistent pace. The main roads include IL 59, US 12, and New Sutton Road, indicating a blend of well-traveled state and U.S. routes. The profile suggests a drive that prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads, making for a relatively smooth and predictable experience behind the wheel.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.8 mi on IL 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 59 and US 12. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.8 miles in near IL 59.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 38.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.8 miles (IL 59): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.9 miles (IL 25 / Dundee Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Elgin, IL
Full guide →Founded 1854
Elgin is a city in Chicagoland known for its Victorian architecture and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.
Top landmarks
- • Elgin Tower Building — building in Illinois, United States
- • Elgin Downtown Commercial District
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 38.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.8 miles on IL 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.20 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Elgin, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.8 miles (IL 59): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.9 miles (IL 25 / Dundee Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elgin, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Elgin, IL
More from Antioch, IL
More trips to Elgin, IL
Explore more options from Antioch, IL or browse trips ending in Elgin, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.