How far is Elgin, IL from Grafton, IL?
The driving distance from Elgin, IL to Grafton, IL is about 306.5 miles (493.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 57m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 240.2 miles (386.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 57m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Township in McLean County, Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Elgin and Grafton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin and Grafton.
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1
Start on East Chicago Street
10 m · 5 sec · East Chicago Street
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2
Turn right onto Villa Street
2.4 mi · 4 min · Villa Street
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3
Merge slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
1583 ft · 29 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
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4
Continue on West Lake Street
5.2 mi · 7 min · West Lake Street
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5
Continue on Lake Street
6.5 mi · 10 min · Lake Street
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6
Take the ramp right toward I 355 Toll South: Joliet
1589 ft · 39 sec
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7
Merge slight left
18.2 mi · 23 min
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
1453 ft · 36 sec
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Joliet Road South
1965 ft · 48 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
706 ft · 17 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
111.5 mi · 2 hr 3 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
37.2 mi · 40 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward US 67 South: Alton
1828 ft · 45 sec
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15
Merge slight left onto United States Route 67
12.3 mi · 14 min · United States Route 67
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16
Continue on 1440 E
2.3 mi · 3 min · 1440 E
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17
Continue on North State Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · North State Street
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18
Continue on South State Avenue
2.4 mi · 3 min · South State Avenue
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19
Continue on North Main Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
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20
Continue on United States Route 67
8.1 mi · 9 min · United States Route 67
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21
Continue on North 5th Street
14.5 mi · 17 min · North 5th Street
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22
Turn right onto McClusky Road
8.2 mi · 14 min · McClusky Road
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23
Turn right
8 mi · 14 min
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24
Turn left onto East Main Street
1062 ft · 24 sec · East Main Street
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25
Turn left onto Oak Street
26 m · 4 sec · Oak Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Oak Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Elgin and Grafton.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
112 mi · 02h 03m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Elgin and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Grafton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Elgin to Grafton?
The road trip is about 306.5 miles (493.2 km) and usually takes 05h 57m 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?
Funks Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 153.2 miles from Elgin and 153.3 miles from Grafton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 240.2 miles (386.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 66.3 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:04 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.80 one way or $81.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Elgin and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Grafton.
Stop Ideas Near Funks Grove
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington Finance Department
City Hall - Town of Normal
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Funks Grove.
Uptown Station
Lincoln
Peoria, Illinois
Pontiac station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and Grafton. Straight-line distance: 240.13 mi (386.45 km).
#1 Elgin
The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.
| Population | 110,196 |
| Coordinates | 42.0372500, -88.2811900 |
| Altitude | 227 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Grafton
Town in Illinois, United States
| Population | 691 |
| Coordinates | 38.9700500, -90.4315000 |
| Altitude | 137 |
| Country | United States |
End: Grafton (-90.4315, 38.97005)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 493 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 12m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 39m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 06m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 22m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 49m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $40.80 | $81.60 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $46.02 | $92.03 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $50.36 | $100.71 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $57.39 | $114.78 |
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 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.