How far is Elgin, IL from Albion, IL?

The driving distance from Elgin, IL to Albion, IL is about 294.5 miles (474 km), with a travel time of about 06h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 253.1 miles (407.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 18m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
294.5 mi
06h 09m
Flight
253.14 mi
407.39 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elgin.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
253.14 mi
Kilometers
407.39 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
294.5 mi
Kilometers
473.95 km
Drive Time
06h 09m

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 06h 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Albion
Sat, Apr 11, 3:11 PM CDT
Return by in Elgin
Sat, Apr 11, 9:21 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elgin
2026-04-11T09:02
Arrive Albion
Sat, Apr 11, 3:11 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:09 PM to 1:39 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:42 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elgin
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Thomasboro
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Elgin
147.3 mi
03h 04m
To Albion
147.1 mi
03h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph ESE
Destination
76°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Chicago Street

    10 m · 5 sec · East Chicago Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Villa Street

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Villa Street

  3. 3

    Merge slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

    1583 ft · 29 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on West Lake Street

    5.2 mi · 7 min · West Lake Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Lake Street

    6.7 mi · 11 min · Lake Street

  6. 6

    Continue on West Lake Street

    5.1 mi · 8 min · West Lake Street

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

    1648 ft · 40 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1 mi · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    42 m · 2 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway

  14. 14

    Continue on Mile-Long Bridge

    1.5 km · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge

  15. 15

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    8.5 mi · 11 min · Tri-State Tollway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street

    1162 ft · 28 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue

    2529 ft · 1 min

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Cicero Avenue

    4.9 mi · 8 min · Cicero Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto 167th Street

    855 ft · 26 sec · 167th Street

  20. 20

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80

    3048 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    156.5 mi · 2 hr 49 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 16 East: Charleston

    1676 ft · 47 sec

  23. 23

    Turn straight onto Charleston Avenue East

    1.2 km · 1 min · Charleston Avenue East

  24. 24

    Continue on Illinois Route 16

    6 mi · 8 min · Illinois Route 16

  25. 25

    Continue on West Lincoln Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · West Lincoln Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn right onto 18th Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · 18th Street

  27. 27

    Continue on Illinois Route 130

    1.2 km · 1 min · Illinois Route 130

  28. 28

    Continue on Route 130

    10 mi · 15 min · Route 130

  29. 29

    Continue on County Road 1825 East

    2 mi · 3 min · County Road 1825 East

  30. 30

    Continue on County Road 1775 E

    1.3 km · 1 min · County Road 1775 E

  31. 31

    Continue on North Haughton Highway

    1945 ft · 33 sec · North Haughton Highway

  32. 32

    Continue on 1700E

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 1700E

  33. 33

    Continue on North Haughton Highway

    4 mi · 6 min · North Haughton Highway

  34. 34

    Continue on County Road 1700E

    2.1 mi · 3 min · County Road 1700E

  35. 35

    Continue on North 1250th Street

    13.3 mi · 20 min · North 1250th Street

  36. 36

    Turn left onto South Van Buren Street

    11 mi · 15 min · South Van Buren Street

  37. 37

    Continue on County Road 1100 East

    6.7 mi · 9 min · County Road 1100 East

  38. 38

    Continue on North West Street

    2.5 mi · 4 min · North West Street

  39. 39

    Continue on County Road 1150

    24.1 mi · 33 min · County Road 1150

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 500E

Car Route Details

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

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
40 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
157 mi · 53%
County Road 1150
24.1 mi · 8%
Tri-State Tollway
18.2 mi · 6%
North 1250th Street
13.3 mi · 5%
South Van Buren Street
11 mi · 4%
West Lake Street
10.3 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Merge slight left

157 mi · 02h 49m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 09m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.4 mi
253.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasboro
03h 04m from Elgin
Leave By
11:42 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Elgin and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Albion.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 294.5 miles (474 km) and usually takes 06h 09m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Thomasboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 147.3 miles from Elgin and 147.1 miles from Albion.

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

The direct path is about 253.1 miles (407.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.4 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.18 one way or $78.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Elgin and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Albion.

Stop Ideas Near Thomasboro

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

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

RAIL

Rantoul

8 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

15 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

49 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Gilman

60 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and Albion. Straight-line distance: 253.14 mi (407.39 km).

Elgin

#1 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

Population110,196
Coordinates42.0372500, -88.2811900
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
Albion

#2 Albion

City in and county seat of Edwards County, Illinois

Population1,889
Coordinates38.3775500, -88.0561500
Altitude159
CountryUnited States
Start: Elgin (-88.28119, 42.03725)
End: Albion (-88.05615, 38.37755)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 474 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.39 gal
39.34 L · about $39.18
Round trip
$78.36
20.78 gal · 78.68 L
Estimated CO2
92.3 kg one way
Round trip: 184.7 kg / 407 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.18 $78.36
Mid-grade $4.25 $44.19 $88.38
Premium $4.65 $48.36 $96.71
Diesel $5.30 $55.11 $110.22

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Elgin and Albion. The current time is 09:02:22.

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.