How far is Elgin, IL from Moline, IL?

The driving distance from Elgin, IL to Moline, IL is about 136.8 miles (220.1 km), with a travel time of about 02h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 120.8 miles (194.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 46m 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
136.76 mi
02h 53m
Flight
120.81 mi
194.42 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
120.81 mi
Kilometers
194.42 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
136.76 mi
Kilometers
220.1 km
Drive Time
02h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Moline
Thu, Apr 23, 1:27 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
2026-04-22T22:34
Arrive Moline
Thu, Apr 23, 1:27 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:53 AM to 12:53 PM CDT

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

Leave by
12:44 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
68.3 mi
01h 26m
To Moline
68.5 mi
01h 26m

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 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elgin and 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

    3.7 mi · 5 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 84 North, IL 92 West: Silvis

    6.1 mi · 15 min

  21. 21

    Turn left onto 19th Street

    109 m · 12 sec · 19th Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto 5th Avenue

    1231 ft · 39 sec · 5th Avenue

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 5th Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
23 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
49.7 mi · 36%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38.9 mi · 28%
Lincoln Highway
16.6 mi · 12%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9.11 mi · 7%
IL 84 North
6.09 mi · 4%
North La Fox Street
4.34 mi · 3%
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 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16 mi
120.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Nachusa
01h 26m from Elgin
Leave By
12:44 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Elgin and Sunny near Moline.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 136.8 miles (220.1 km) and usually takes 02h 53m 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 68.3 miles from Elgin and 68.5 miles from Moline.

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

The direct path is about 120.8 miles (194.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 16 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 12:44 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.21 one way or $36.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 42.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Elgin and Sunny near 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 Moline. Straight-line distance: 120.81 mi (194.42 km).

Elgin

#1 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

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

#2 Moline

The largest city in Rock Island County, Illinois.

Population41,065
Coordinates41.5067000, -90.5151300
Altitude176
CountryUnited States
Start: Elgin (-88.28119, 42.03725)
End: Moline (-90.51513, 41.5067)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 220 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.83 gal
18.27 L · about $18.21
Round trip
$36.43
9.66 gal · 36.54 L
Estimated CO2
42.9 kg one way
Round trip: 85.8 kg / 189 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $18.21 $36.43
Mid-grade $4.25 $20.54 $41.08
Premium $4.65 $22.48 $44.96
Diesel $5.30 $25.62 $51.24

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 Moline. The current time is 22:34:29.

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.