How far is Elgin, IL from East Moline, IL?

The driving distance from Elgin, IL to East Moline, IL is about 133.6 miles (215 km), with a travel time of about 02h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 117.4 miles (189 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 28m 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
133.59 mi
02h 44m
Flight
117.46 mi
189.04 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
117.46 mi
Kilometers
189.04 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
133.59 mi
Kilometers
214.99 km
Drive Time
02h 44m

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 02h 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in East Moline
Thu, Apr 23, 1:50 AM CDT
Return by in Elgin
Thu, Apr 23, 4:34 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elgin
2026-04-22T23:06
Arrive East Moline
Thu, Apr 23, 1:50 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:44 AM to 12:44 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:02 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
Nachusa
IL

Township in Lee County, Illinois

From Elgin
66.7 mi
01h 22m
To East Moline
66.9 mi
01h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elgin and East Moline.

  1. 1

    Start on East Chicago Street

    10 m · 5 sec · East Chicago Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Villa Street

    2959 ft · 58 sec · Villa Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East National Street

    2840 ft · 1 min · East National Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto South State Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · South State Street

  5. 5

    Continue on North La Fox Street

    4.3 mi · 7 min · North La Fox Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Silver Glen Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Silver Glen Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Randall Road

    1.4 km · 1 min · Randall Road

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Bolcum Road

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Bolcum Road

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Burlington Road

    54 m · 4 sec · Burlington Road

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto Burlington Road

    1532 ft · 33 sec · Burlington Road

  11. 11

    Continue on LaFox Road

    2.3 mi · 4 min · LaFox Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Lincoln Highway

    16.6 mi · 23 min · Lincoln Highway

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Peace Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Peace Road

  14. 14

    Take the ramp left toward I 88 West Toll: Moline Rock Island

    1570 ft · 38 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    49.7 mi · 53 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  16. 16

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    37.8 mi · 40 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    5.4 mi · 6 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    4.8 mi · 7 min

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Crosstown Avenue

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Crosstown Avenue

  21. 21

    Continue on 30th Avenue

    1 mi · 3 min · 30th Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn right onto 7th Street

    36 m · 3 sec · 7th Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 7th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
23 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
49.7 mi · 37%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38.9 mi · 29%
Lincoln Highway
16.6 mi · 12%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
10.2 mi · 8%
North La Fox Street
4.34 mi · 3%
Bolcum Road
3.24 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

49.7 mi · 00h 53m

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
02h 44m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.2 mi
117.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Nachusa
01h 22m from Elgin
Leave By
1:02 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Elgin and Sunny near East Moline.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elgin to East Moline?

The road trip is about 133.6 miles (215 km) and usually takes 02h 44m 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?

Nachusa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 66.7 miles from Elgin and 66.9 miles from East Moline.

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

The direct path is about 117.4 miles (189 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.2 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 1:02 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.76 one way or $35.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 41.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Elgin and Sunny near East Moline.

Stop Ideas Near Nachusa

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

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

RAIL

Mendota station

39 mi away
783 Main Street
RAIL

Princeton

50 mi away
107 Bicentennial Dr.
BUS

Rockford, Illinois

59 mi away
7559 Walton St.
RAIL

Plano

73 mi away
101 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and East Moline. Straight-line distance: 117.46 mi (189.04 km).

Elgin

#1 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

Population110,196
Coordinates42.0372500, -88.2811900
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
East Moline

#2 East Moline

City in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States

Population20,473
Coordinates41.5008700, -90.4443000
Altitude214
CountryUnited States
Start: Elgin (-88.28119, 42.03725)
End: East Moline (-90.4443, 41.50087)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 215 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 54m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.71 gal
17.84 L · about $17.76
Round trip
$35.52
9.42 gal · 35.68 L
Estimated CO2
41.9 kg one way
Round trip: 83.7 kg / 185 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $17.76 $35.52
Mid-grade $4.25 $20.03 $40.06
Premium $4.65 $21.92 $43.84
Diesel $5.30 $24.98 $49.96

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 East Moline. The current time is 23:06:02.

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.