Origin
Big Rock, IL
Late night in Big Rock on Tuesday
Local time
3:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Big Rock, 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
50m
Distance
31 mi
50 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Big Rock, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Elgin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 31-mile drive from Big Rock, IL, to Elgin, IL, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 50 minutes. Designed as a single-day adventure, it requires no overnight stops, and the estimated fuel cost is a modest $5. You'll primarily navigate South Randall Road and IL 31, with a portion on Galena Street. The route offers a mixed driving experience, making it a practical choice for a quick excursion within the Midwest region. Consider this a convenient way to get from one point to another without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Randall Road | 10.5 mi | 17m |
| IL 31 | 6.1 mi | 11m |
| Galena Street | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| IL 56 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Orchard Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Silver Glen Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Chicago Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Randall Road
— 10.5 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Rock, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on this road
47 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 30
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Galena Street
3
Continue on IL 56
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
IL 56
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 114
Toward Orchard Road
Use the slight right lane.
5
Turn right onto CR 83
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Orchard Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto CR 34
10 mi
·
17 min
·
South Randall Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto CR 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Silver Glen Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto IL 31
6.1 mi
·
11 min
·
IL 31
9
Turn right onto East Chicago Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Chicago Street
10
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.5 miles from Big Rock, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 24.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 30 / Galena Street
Turn right onto US 30 / Galena Street
Navigation decision point
7
10.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward Orchard Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 114
Toward Orchard Road
4
10.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
CR 83 / Orchard Road
Turn right onto CR 83 / Orchard Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
13.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
CR 34 / South Randall Road
Turn left onto CR 34 / South Randall Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
24.5 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
IL 31
At end of road, turn left onto IL 31
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.85 one way
$9.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.32 | $10.64 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.97 | $11.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.84 | $13.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.49 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.71 | $1.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.34 | $1.98 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
3:06 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
50m 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?
The drive features a 36% highway share, indicating a blend of faster-paced sections and more local road navigation. You'll encounter stretches that allow for steady progress, with the longest continuous segment measuring 10.5 miles along South Randall Road. This mixed drive profile means you'll experience varying traffic conditions and speed limits as you transition between main arteries and local streets. The road's character shifts, offering a dynamic feel as you approach your destination.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.5 mi on South Randall Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 30 / Galena Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 50m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 30 / Galena Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles (CR 83 / Orchard Road): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Big Rock, IL
Full guide →Founded 2001
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 50m. Total distance: 31 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.5 miles on South Randall Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (US 30 / Galena Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles (CR 83 / Orchard Road): 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.
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