How far is Buckeye, IL from Elgin, IL?

The driving distance from Buckeye, IL to Elgin, IL is about 202.9 miles (326.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 147.3 miles (237.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
202.93 mi
03h 30m
Flight
147.31 mi
237.08 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Buckeye.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
147.31 mi
Kilometers
237.08 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
202.93 mi
Kilometers
326.58 km
Drive Time
03h 30m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elgin
Thu, Apr 23, 12:33 AM CDT
Return by in Buckeye
Thu, Apr 23, 4:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Buckeye
2026-04-22T21:02
Arrive Elgin
Thu, Apr 23, 12:33 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:31 AM to 11:31 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:58 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Buckeye
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Fenton
IL

City in Whiteside County, Illinois, United States of America

From Buckeye
103.9 mi
01h 45m
To Elgin
99 mi
01h 45m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph SW
Destination
73°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Buckeye and Elgin.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Buckeye and Elgin.

  1. 1

    Start on County Road 2

    2.4 mi · 6 min · County Road 2

  2. 2

    Turn right

    6.2 mi · 11 min

  3. 3

    Turn left onto State Route 97

    4.8 mi · 8 min · State Route 97

  4. 4

    Continue on North East Street

    10.6 mi · 18 min · North East Street

  5. 5

    Keep slight left

    10.6 mi · 15 min

  6. 6

    Continue on US 150 / IL 97

    2729 ft · 48 sec · US 150 / IL 97

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left toward I 74 West: Galesburg

    1921 ft · 47 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    39.3 mi · 42 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    6.3 mi · 7 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls

    94.2 mi · 1 hr 41 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward DeKalb, Sycamore

    1739 ft · 49 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    50 m · 6 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto Peace Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Peace Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto East Lincoln Highway

    16.6 mi · 23 min · East Lincoln Highway

  15. 15

    Turn left onto LaFox Road

    2.3 mi · 4 min · LaFox Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Burlington Road

    1513 ft · 31 sec · Burlington Road

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Bolcum Road

    7 m · 1 sec · Bolcum Road

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto Bolcum Road

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Bolcum Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Randall Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Randall Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Silver Glen Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Silver Glen Road

  21. 21

    At the end of the road, turn left

    6.1 mi · 11 min

  22. 22

    Turn right onto East Chicago Street

    1719 ft · 55 sec · East Chicago Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Chicago Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Buckeye and Elgin.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
23 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 88 East
94.2 mi · 46%
I 74 West
39.7 mi · 20%
North East Street
21.2 mi · 10%
East Lincoln Highway
16.6 mi · 8%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
6.29 mi · 3%
State Route 97
4.76 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 88 East

Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls

94.2 mi · 01h 41m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.6 mi
147.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fenton
01h 45m from Buckeye
Leave By
9:58 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Buckeye and Sunny near Elgin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Buckeye to Elgin?

The road trip is about 202.9 miles (326.6 km) and usually takes 03h 30m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Fenton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 103.9 miles from Buckeye and 99 miles from Elgin.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 147.3 miles (237.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:58 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.00 one way or $54.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 63.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Buckeye and Sunny near Elgin.

Stop Ideas Near Fenton

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Fenton, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Fenton.

BUS

Moline, Illinois

50 mi away
1200 River Drive
BUS

Rock Island, IL

50 mi away
3500 5th Avenue
BUS

Davenport, Iowa

51 mi away
304 West River Drive
RAIL

Kewanee

55 mi away
Loomis and North Tremont Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Buckeye and Elgin. Straight-line distance: 147.31 mi (237.08 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Buckeye

Township in Stephenson County, Illinois

Population1,251
Coordinates40.5319800, -90.2909600
Altitude165
CountryUnited States
Elgin

#2 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

Population110,196
Coordinates42.0372500, -88.2811900
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
Start: County Road 2 (-90.29096, 40.53198)
End: East Chicago Street (-88.281194, 42.037244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 327 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 53m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.16 gal
27.11 L · about $27.00
Round trip
$54.00
14.32 gal · 54.22 L
Estimated CO2
63.6 kg one way
Round trip: 127.3 kg / 281 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.00 $54.00
Mid-grade $4.25 $30.45 $60.90
Premium $4.65 $33.32 $66.65
Diesel $5.30 $37.98 $75.95

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Buckeye and Elgin. The current time is 21:02:32.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.