How far is Elgin, IL from Jackson, IL?
The driving distance from Elgin, IL to Jackson, IL is about 276.1 miles (444.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 10m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 231.5 miles (372.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 10m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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 Peoria County, Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Elgin and Jackson.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin and Jackson.
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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
6.7 mi · 11 min · Lake Street
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6
Continue on West Lake Street
5.1 mi · 8 min · West Lake Street
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7
Take the ramp left toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago
3.1 mi · 4 min
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
1648 ft · 40 sec
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9
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1 mi · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway
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11
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
42 m · 2 sec · Tri-State Tollway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway
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14
Continue on Mile-Long Bridge
1.5 km · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge
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15
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
15.1 mi · 19 min · Tri-State Tollway
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16
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
6.1 mi · 8 min · Tri-State Tollway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, IL 83: Torrence Avenue
1.4 km · 1 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on US 6 West, IL 83 West: Torrence Avenue
997 ft · 24 sec
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19
Keep slight right to continue on IL 83 South
153 m · 12 sec
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20
Turn straight onto Torrence Avenue
3.7 mi · 6 min · Torrence Avenue
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21
Turn left onto Glenwood Dyer Road
1.8 mi · 3 min · Glenwood Dyer Road
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22
Continue on Lincoln Highway
1.6 km · 2 min · Lincoln Highway
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23
Continue on Joliet Street
2.7 mi · 5 min · Joliet Street
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24
Continue on West Lincoln Highway
656 ft · 20 sec · West Lincoln Highway
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25
Turn right onto Wicker Avenue
58.8 mi · 1 hr 18 min · Wicker Avenue
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26
Keep slight left
21.6 mi · 27 min
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27
Continue straight
63.4 mi · 1 hr 21 min
-
28
Continue straight
57.4 mi · 1 hr 17 min
-
29
Take the exit slight right toward US 50 West: Lawrenceville
1341 ft · 33 sec
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30
Merge slight left
8.5 mi · 10 min
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31
Take the exit slight left
3141 ft · 1 min
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32
Turn sharp left
78 m · 11 sec
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33
Continue on 990N
160 m · 11 sec · 990N
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 990N
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Elgin and Jackson.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
Wicker Avenue
Continue straight
63.4 mi · 01h 21m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Elgin and Partly Sunny near Jackson.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Elgin to Jackson?
The road trip is about 276.1 miles (444.3 km) and usually takes 06h 10m 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?
Hallock is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138.1 miles from Elgin and 137.9 miles from Jackson.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 231.5 miles (372.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.6 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 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 $36.73 one way or $73.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Elgin and Partly Sunny near Jackson.
Stop Ideas Near Hallock
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Hallock.
Gilman
Danville, Illinois
Rantoul
Rensselaer
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and Jackson. Straight-line distance: 231.51 mi (372.58 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 Jackson
County in Illinois, United States
| Population | 18,488 |
| Coordinates | 38.7211600, -87.6503000 |
| Altitude | 144 |
| Country | United States |
End: Jackson (-87.6503, 38.72116)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 444 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 11m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 31m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 36m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 56m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $36.73 | $73.46 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $41.42 | $82.85 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $45.33 | $90.66 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $51.66 | $103.32 |
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 · May 29, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.