How far is Carbondale, IL from Elk Grove, IL?

The driving distance from Carbondale, IL to Elk Grove, IL is about 349.9 miles (563.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 303.4 miles (488.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 44m 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
349.93 mi
05h 22m
Flight
303.35 mi
488.2 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Carbondale.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
303.35 mi
Kilometers
488.2 km
Flight Time
00h 36m

Driving Distance

Road route
349.93 mi
Kilometers
563.15 km
Drive Time
05h 22m

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 05h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elk Grove
Wed, Apr 15, 5:10 AM CDT
Return by in Carbondale
Wed, Apr 15, 10:32 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Carbondale
2026-04-14T23:48
Arrive Elk Grove
Wed, Apr 15, 5:10 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:22 AM to 1:22 PM CDT

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

Leave by
6:16 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Carbondale
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
Tuscola
IL

City in Illinois

From Carbondale
172.5 mi
02h 41m
To Elk Grove
177.4 mi
02h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Tuesday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 mph SSW
Destination
76°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Carbondale and Elk Grove.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carbondale and Elk Grove.

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    539 ft · 21 sec · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South University Avenue

    721 ft · 17 sec · South University Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Walnut Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · West Walnut Street

  4. 4

    Continue on East Main Street

    9.7 mi · 14 min · East Main Street

  5. 5

    Continue on West Deyoung Street

    3.3 mi · 4 min · West Deyoung Street

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

    41.3 mi · 45 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    67.5 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    185.5 mi · 3 hr 21 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin

    1718 ft · 33 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    20.8 mi · 26 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago

    98 m · 8 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.3 km · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 290 West: Rockford

    1.4 km · 2 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on Saint Charles Road West

    1751 ft · 43 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 20 West, IL 64 West: Lake Street, York Road

    636 ft · 16 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on York Road

    1093 ft · 29 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto North York Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · North York Street

  22. 22

    Continue on South York Road

    4.3 mi · 8 min · South York Road

  23. 23

    Continue on South Elmhurst Road

    1 mi · 2 min · South Elmhurst Road

  24. 24

    Continue on South Elmhurst Road

    159 m · 27 sec · South Elmhurst Road

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Elmhurst Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Carbondale and Elk Grove.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
25 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
185 mi · 53%
Ken Gray Expressway
109 mi · 31%
Tri-State Tollway
22.8 mi · 7%
East Main Street
9.84 mi · 3%
West Deyoung Street
4.57 mi · 1%
South York Road
4.29 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

185 mi · 03h 21m

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
05h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.5 mi
303.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tuscola
02h 41m from Carbondale
Leave By
6:16 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Carbondale and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Elk Grove.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Carbondale to Elk Grove?

The road trip is about 349.9 miles (563.1 km) and usually takes 05h 22m 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?

Tuscola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 172.5 miles from Carbondale and 177.4 miles from Elk Grove.

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

The direct path is about 303.4 miles (488.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.5 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 6:16 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.57 one way or $93.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Carbondale and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Elk Grove.

Stop Ideas Near Tuscola

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Tuscola, 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 Tuscola.

RAIL

Illinois Terminal

35 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Mattoon station

36 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

58 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

66 mi away
379 Lynch Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Carbondale and Elk Grove. Straight-line distance: 303.35 mi (488.2 km).

Carbondale

#1 Carbondale

City in Illinois, USA

Population25,036
Coordinates37.7272700, -89.2167500
Altitude126
CountryUnited States
Elk Grove

#2 Elk Grove

Township in Cook County, Illinois

Population31,831
Coordinates42.0072500, -87.9403400
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Start: IL 13 (-89.216747, 37.727235)
End: South Elmhurst Road (-87.940348, 42.00725)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 563 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.35 gal
46.74 L · about $46.57
Round trip
$93.14
24.7 gal · 93.48 L
Estimated CO2
109.8 kg one way
Round trip: 219.5 kg / 484 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $46.57 $93.14
Mid-grade $4.25 $52.52 $105.05
Premium $4.65 $57.48 $114.95
Diesel $5.30 $65.50 $131.01

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Carbondale and Elk Grove. The current time is 23:48:35.

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.