How far is Elgin, IL from Malta, IL?

The driving distance from Elgin, IL to Malta, IL is about 35.6 miles (57.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30.7 miles (49.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 03m 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
35.59 mi
01h 01m
Flight
30.69 mi
49.39 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
30.69 mi
Kilometers
49.39 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
35.59 mi
Kilometers
57.27 km
Drive Time
01h 01m

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 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Malta
Thu, Apr 23, 3:19 AM CDT
Return by in Elgin
Thu, Apr 23, 4:21 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elgin
2026-04-23T02:17
Arrive Malta
Thu, Apr 23, 3:19 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:02 AM to 11:02 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:26 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
Burlington
IL

Village in Illinois, United States

From Elgin
17.8 mi
00h 30m
To Malta
17.8 mi
00h 30m

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
79°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 25 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Chicago Street

    10 m · 8 sec · East Chicago Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Center Street

    100 m · 13 sec · Center Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Highland Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · East Highland Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Larkin Avenue

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Larkin Avenue

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight

    2474 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

    110 m · 6 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Plank Road

    16.7 mi · 27 min · Plank Road

  10. 10

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto West Elm Street

    1269 ft · 35 sec · West Elm Street

  12. 12

    Continue on DeKalb Avenue

    2.9 mi · 5 min · DeKalb Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on Sycamore Road

    2 mi · 4 min · Sycamore Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Sycamore Road

    1206 ft · 56 sec · Sycamore Road

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North 1st Street

    1823 ft · 53 sec · North 1st Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West Lincoln Highway

    5.6 mi · 8 min · West Lincoln Highway

  17. 17

    Turn left onto North 4th Street

    2139 ft · 2 min · North 4th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Adams Street

    21 m · 3 sec · Adams Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Adams Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
19 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
53.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Plank Road
16.7 mi · 47%
West Lincoln Highway
5.56 mi · 16%
DeKalb Avenue
2.94 mi · 8%
Sycamore Road
2.2 mi · 6%
Larkin Avenue
2.09 mi · 6%
North Main Street
1.99 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Plank Road

Turn left onto Plank Road

16.7 mi · 00h 27m

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 01m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.9 mi
30.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Burlington
00h 30m from Elgin
Leave By
4:26 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Elgin and Mostly Sunny near Malta.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 35.6 miles (57.3 km) and usually takes 01h 01m 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?

Burlington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 17.8 miles from Elgin and 17.8 miles from Malta.

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

The direct path is about 30.7 miles (49.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.9 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 4:26 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.71 one way or $9.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Burlington

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

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

BUS

Rockford, Illinois

43 mi away
7559 Walton St.
RAIL

Plano

43 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

Naperville

45 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Glenview station

61 mi away
1116 Depot St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and Malta. Straight-line distance: 30.69 mi (49.39 km).

Elgin

#1 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

Population110,196
Coordinates42.0372500, -88.2811900
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Malta

Village in Illinois, US

Population1,161
Coordinates41.9297500, -88.8609200
Altitude277
CountryUnited States
Start: Elgin (-88.28119, 42.03725)
End: Malta (-88.86092, 41.92975)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 57 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.25 gal
4.75 L · about $4.71
Round trip
$9.43
2.5 gal · 9.5 L
Estimated CO2
11.1 kg one way
Round trip: 22.2 kg / 49 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.71 $9.43
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.32 $10.63
Premium $4.65 $5.82 $11.64
Diesel $5.30 $6.63 $13.26

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 Malta. The current time is 02:17:21.

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.