Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Elgin, IL to Silvis, IL

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 39m

Distance

131.3 mi

211 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 29m ★
6 AM
2h 39m
8 AM
3h 0m
10 AM
2h 47m
12 PM
2h 45m
3 PM
2h 48m
5 PM
2h 59m
8 PM
2h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Cook and Kane counties in the northern part of the U.S. state of Illinois

Elgin, IL

Wikimedia Commons

city in Rock Island County, Illinois, USA

Silvis, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Elgin, IL to Silvis, IL covers 131.3 miles and takes about 2h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, Lincoln Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.7 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.36 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

65.7 miles from Elgin, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 49.7 mi 53m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway 38.9 mi 41m
Lincoln Highway 16.6 mi 22m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway 5.4 mi 5m
North La Fox Street 4.3 mi 6m
IL 5 3.7 mi 4m
Bolcum Road 3.2 mi 5m
LaFox Road 2.3 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway — 49.7 mi, about 53m

Traffic on I-88

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~599 veh/hr typical · worst 901

Quietest

2 AM

~75 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

8×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 78 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elgin, IL and Silvis, IL.

1

Start on East Chicago Street

34 ft · 5 sec · East Chicago Street
2

Turn right onto Villa Street

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Villa Street
3

Turn right onto East National Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East National Street
4

Turn left onto IL 31

1.2 mi · 3 min · South State Street
5

Continue on IL 31

4.3 mi · 6 min · North La Fox Street
6

Turn right onto CR 5

0.9 mi · 1 min · Silver Glen Road
Use the right lane.
7

Turn left onto CR 34

0.9 mi · 1 min · Randall Road
8

Turn right onto Bolcum Road

3.2 mi · 5 min · Bolcum Road
9

Enter roundabout onto CR 2

178 ft · 3 sec · Burlington Road
10

Continue on CR 2

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Burlington Road
11

Continue on CR 81

2.3 mi · 4 min · LaFox Road
12

Turn right onto IL 38

17 mi · 22 min · Lincoln Highway
13

Turn left onto Peace Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · Peace Road
14

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 88 West Toll: Moline Rock Island
15

Merge onto I 88; IL 110

50 mi · 53 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 88; IL 110

1.1 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
17

Continue on I 88; IL 110

38 mi · 40 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Exit 41
18

Continue on I 88; IL 92; IL 110

5.4 mi · 5 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
19

Continue on IL 5; IL 92

3.7 mi · 4 min · IL 5; IL 92
20

Take the exit onto IL 92

1.0 mi · 2 min · IL 92
Toward IL 84 North, IL 92 West: Silvis
21

Arrive at destination

IL 84; IL 92

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.7 miles from Elgin, IL, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.7 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 29 miles or 45m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 65.7 miles or 1h 26m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Silvis, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Elgin, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Elgin, IL

This is one driving day of about 131.3 miles and 2h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Elgin, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 49.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Belvidere, IL

66 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

Belvidere, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dixon, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 65.7 miles from Elgin, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

El Pueblo Mexican Grill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Silvis, Illinois

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Hours: 11:30 am–7:30 pm

+13097556391

Rock Falls Candlelight

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rock Falls, Illinois

1.2 mi

A's Kitchen

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Rock Falls, Illinois

1.3 mi

Best coffee break · final third

Ana's Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Rock Falls, Illinois

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third · 57min to go 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+18156264294

Lincoln Way Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Franklin Grove, Illinois

2.3 mi

Indian Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

East Moline, Illinois

2.2 mi

El Pueblo Mexican Grill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Silvis, Illinois

Hours: 11:30 am–7:30 pm

+13097556391

Rock Falls Candlelight

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Rock Falls, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18156261897

Visit website

A's Kitchen

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Rock Falls, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+18156256574

Creative Signature Cuisine

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

East Moline, Illinois

Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm

+13098652591

888 Bistro

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

East Moline, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+13092031986

Visit website

River's Edge Inn

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Dixon, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+18152887396

Visit website

La Familia

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Rock Falls, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+18156260158

Visit website

Lil' Smoked Bar + Grill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Dixon, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+18156779867

Visit website

Ana's Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Rock Falls, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+18156264294

Lincoln Way Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Franklin Grove, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+18154562359

Visit website

Indian Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

East Moline, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8:45 pm

+13099127604

Visit website

Flip Side Coffee & Espresso Bar

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Rock Falls, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+18157180022

Air Play Espresso and Bakery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Sterling, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+18155854327

Visit website

Huddle Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Ashton, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18154532677

Visit website

Revive Cafe - serving local, organic, healthy, vegan and gluten free options in the Quad Cities

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

East Moline, Illinois

Hours: 8:30 am–3 pm

+13092073271

Visit website

Sloppy Genes Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Sterling, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+18156256846

Visit website

DeKalb Oasis

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.3 mi from route

Rest Area

1.5 mi from route

Road Ranger

2.1 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

2.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

2.2 mi from route

Mississippi Rapids Rest Area (Eastbound only)

2.5 mi from route

The Logger House

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Hampton, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–1 pm

+13097553077

Rooney's

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Franklin Grove, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–1 pm

+18154562590

Visit website

Froggy's Bar & Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Rock Falls, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–1 pm

+18156254783

Visit website

Subway

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour Inexpensiv

Silvis, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+13097960996

Visit website

Lisa's Brick House Bar & Grill

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Sterling, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–1 pm

+18155905472

The Speakeasy at La Bella Notte

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Rock Falls, Illinois

Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm

+18157168559

Flight Deck A Global Inspired Pub

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18155613664

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 130.4 — 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 | Villa Street

Turn right onto Villa Street

Navigation decision point

6
6.7 mi into trip | ~12m in | CR 5 / Silver Glen Road

Turn right onto CR 5 / Silver Glen Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
32.3 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the ramp toward I 88 West Toll: Moline Rock Island

Navigation decision point

Toward I 88 West Toll: Moline Rock Island
5
32.6 mi into trip | ~51m in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
130.4 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in | IL 92

Take the exit onto IL 92 toward IL 84 North, IL 92 West: Silvis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IL 84 North, IL 92 West: Silvis

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.36 one way

$40.71 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $22.32 $44.64
premium $4.93 $25.47 $50.95
diesel $5.60 $28.94 $57.89

Estimated Tolls: $2.98

Reagan Memorial Tollway (49.7 mi) $2.98

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 39.4 0 $13.79 $6.30
Efficient EV 32.8 0 $11.49 $5.25
EV Truck/SUV 52.5 0 $18.38 $8.40

Gas CO2

46 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Aug 30, 2026

Origin

Elgin, IL

Evening in Elgin on Friday

Local time

5:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 19% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Destination

Silvis, IL

Evening in Silvis on Friday

Local time

5:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 to 15 mph 34% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 9:10AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 29 at 5:29PM CDT until August 30 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

4 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

2h 39m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

131.3 mi in 2h 39m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.7 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Villa Street.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Elgin, IL to Silvis, IL is easy. At 2h 39m with 8% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Villa Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (CR 5 / Silver Glen Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.3 miles: Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

888 ft 584 ft

Total Climb

199 ft

Total Descent

344 ft

Highest Point

888 ft

~28.1 mi in

Elevation Range

304 ft

About the Cities

Starting 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

Arriving in Silvis, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1906

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 2h 39m. Total distance: 131.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (8%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 49.7 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.98 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan 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.

Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Villa Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (CR 5 / Silver Glen Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.3 miles: Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Silvis, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Silvis, IL

Bremen, IL 308.5 mi · 6h 2m York, IL 278.8 mi · 5h 40m Oak Grove, IL 14.9 mi · 23m

More from Elgin, IL

Cairo, IL 396.6 mi · 7h 30m Metropolis, IL 390.3 mi · 7h 23m Anna, IL 370.5 mi · 7h 1m Carrier Mills, IL 362.8 mi · 7h 2m Campton, IL 349.9 mi · 6h 52m Cambria, IL 347.5 mi · 6h 40m
Escape planner: Elgin, IL Scenic drives in IL

Explore more options from Elgin, IL or browse trips ending in Silvis, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.