How far is Elgin, IL from Atwood, IL?

The driving distance from Elgin, IL to Atwood, IL is about 192.5 miles (309.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 154.9 miles (249.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 49m 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
192.48 mi
03h 54m
Flight
154.9 mi
249.29 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
154.9 mi
Kilometers
249.29 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
192.48 mi
Kilometers
309.77 km
Drive Time
03h 54m

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 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Atwood
Sat, Apr 11, 12:56 PM CDT
Return by in Elgin
Sat, Apr 11, 4:50 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elgin
2026-04-11T09:01
Arrive Atwood
Sat, Apr 11, 12:56 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:55 AM to 11:55 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
9:10 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elgin
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
Clifton
IL

Village in Chebanse Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, USA

From Elgin
96.3 mi
01h 57m
To Atwood
96.2 mi
01h 57m

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
66°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    126.1 mi · 2 hr 17 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward US 45: Tolono, Pesotum, Tuscola

    1328 ft · 28 sec

  23. 23

    Turn straight

    8 mi · 12 min

  24. 24

    Turn right

    825 ft · 30 sec

  25. 25

    Turn straight onto County Road 950 North

    8.8 mi · 13 min · County Road 950 North

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Main Street

    2959 ft · 59 sec · Main Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
127 mi · 66%
Tri-State Tollway
18.2 mi · 9%
West Lake Street
10.3 mi · 5%
County Road 950 North
8.81 mi · 5%
Lake Street
6.73 mi · 3%
Cicero Avenue
4.89 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Merge slight left

126 mi · 02h 17m

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 54m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.6 mi
154.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clifton
01h 57m from Elgin
Leave By
9:10 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Elgin and Partly Sunny near Atwood.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 192.5 miles (309.8 km) and usually takes 03h 54m 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?

Clifton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 96.3 miles from Elgin and 96.2 miles from Atwood.

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

The direct path is about 154.9 miles (249.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.6 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 9:10 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.76 one way or $51.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Elgin and Partly Sunny near Atwood.

Stop Ideas Near Clifton

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

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

RAIL

Gilman

20 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Kankakee

21 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Dwight station

45 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

59 mi away
721 West Washington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and Atwood. Straight-line distance: 154.9 mi (249.29 km).

Elgin

#1 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

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

#2 Atwood

City in Rawlins County, Kansas, United States

Population1,155
Coordinates39.7994800, -88.4622800
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Start: Elgin (-88.28119, 42.03725)
End: Atwood (-88.46228, 39.79948)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 310 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.83 gal
25.86 L · about $25.76
Round trip
$51.51
13.66 gal · 51.72 L
Estimated CO2
60.7 kg one way
Round trip: 121.4 kg / 268 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $25.76 $51.51
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.05 $58.10
Premium $4.65 $31.79 $63.57
Diesel $5.30 $36.23 $72.45

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 Atwood. The current time is 09:01:29.

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.