How far is Elgin, IL from New Athens, IL?
The driving distance from Elgin, IL to New Athens, IL is about 319.8 miles (514.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 16m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 269.9 miles (434.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 32m 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 16m.
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.
Village in McLean County, Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Elgin and New Athens.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin and New Athens.
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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 left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
77.9 mi · 1 hr 24 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
1434 ft · 48 sec
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15
Continue on Vandalia Street
3 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street
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16
Continue on South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue
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17
Continue on North Illinois Street
9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street
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18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street
55 m · 5 sec · South Illinois Street
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19
Exit the rotary onto South Illinois Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · South Illinois Street
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20
Take the ramp left
945 ft · 23 sec
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21
Merge slight left
15.5 mi · 25 min
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22
Turn left onto White Cabin Lodge Road
158 m · 14 sec · White Cabin Lodge Road
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23
Continue on South Van Buren Street
568 ft · 16 sec · South Van Buren Street
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24
Turn right onto South Benton Street
2721 ft · 2 min · South Benton Street
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25
Turn right onto Chester Street
19 m · 3 sec · Chester Street
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Chester Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Elgin and New Athens.
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.
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.
Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Elgin and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near New Athens.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Elgin to New Athens?
The road trip is about 319.8 miles (514.6 km) and usually takes 06h 16m 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?
McLean is a useful midpoint, sitting about 159.9 miles from Elgin and 159.8 miles from New Athens.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 269.9 miles (434.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.9 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 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 $42.54 one way or $85.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Elgin and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near New Athens.
Stop Ideas Near McLean
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
City of Lincoln
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to McLean.
Lincoln
Uptown Station
Peoria, Illinois
Springfield station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and New Athens. Straight-line distance: 269.86 mi (434.3 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 New Athens
Village in St.
| Population | 1,865 |
| Coordinates | 38.3264400, -89.8770500 |
| Altitude | 121 |
| Country | United States |
End: New Athens (-89.87705, 38.32644)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 515 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 39m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 59m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 23m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 19m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 34m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 59m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $42.54 | $85.07 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $47.97 | $95.95 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $52.50 | $104.99 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $59.83 | $119.66 |
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.