How far is Elgin, IL from Braidwood, IL?

The driving distance from Elgin, IL to Braidwood, IL is about 69.8 miles (112.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 53.5 miles (86.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 04m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
69.79 mi
01h 32m
Flight
53.48 mi
86.06 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elgin.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
53.48 mi
Kilometers
86.06 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
69.79 mi
Kilometers
112.32 km
Drive Time
01h 32m

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 01h 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Braidwood
Thu, Apr 23, 3:37 AM CDT
Return by in Elgin
Thu, Apr 23, 5:09 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elgin
2026-04-23T02:04
Arrive Braidwood
Thu, Apr 23, 3:37 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:32 AM to 11:32 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:26 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elgin
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Bolingbrook
IL

Town in Illinois

From Elgin
34.9 mi
00h 46m
To Braidwood
34.9 mi
00h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    6.5 mi · 10 min · Lake Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet

    1589 ft · 39 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    18.2 mi · 23 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis

    1453 ft · 36 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Joliet Road South

    1965 ft · 48 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    706 ft · 17 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    33 mi · 38 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 113: Coal City, Kankakee

    1649 ft · 44 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto West Coal City Road

    1602 ft · 33 sec · West Coal City Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Division Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · North Division Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · West Main Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Washington Street

    49 m · 9 sec · North Washington Street

  17. 17

    Turn left

    61 m · 15 sec

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
25.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
33 mi · 47%
I 355 Toll South
18.5 mi · 26%
Lake Street
6.49 mi · 9%
West Lake Street
5.18 mi · 7%
Villa Street
2.43 mi · 3%
North Division Street
1.7 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

33 mi · 00h 38m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 32m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.3 mi
53.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bolingbrook
00h 46m from Elgin
Leave By
3:26 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Elgin and Mostly Sunny near Braidwood.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 69.8 miles (112.3 km) and usually takes 01h 32m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Bolingbrook is a useful midpoint, sitting about 34.9 miles from Elgin and 34.9 miles from Braidwood.

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

The direct path is about 53.5 miles (86.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:26 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.28 one way or $18.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 21.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Bolingbrook

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

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

RAIL

Naperville

11 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

19 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

21 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

24 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and Braidwood. Straight-line distance: 53.48 mi (86.06 km).

Elgin

#1 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

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

#2 Braidwood

City in Will County, Illinois, United States

Population6,148
Coordinates41.2650300, -88.2122800
Altitude176
CountryUnited States
Start: Elgin (-88.28119, 42.03725)
End: Braidwood (-88.21228, 41.26503)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 112 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.46 gal
9.32 L · about $9.28
Round trip
$18.55
4.92 gal · 18.64 L
Estimated CO2
21.9 kg one way
Round trip: 43.7 kg / 96 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $9.28 $18.55
Mid-grade $4.25 $10.46 $20.92
Premium $4.65 $11.45 $22.90
Diesel $5.30 $13.05 $26.10

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 Elgin and Braidwood. The current time is 02:04:54.

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.