How far is Elgin, IL from Palestine, IL?
The driving distance from Elgin, IL to Palestine, IL is about 276.9 miles (445.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 50m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 212.5 miles (342 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 40m 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 50m.
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.
Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Elgin and Palestine.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin and Palestine.
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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
8.5 mi · 11 min · Tri-State Tollway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
1162 ft · 28 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
2529 ft · 1 min
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18
Turn straight onto Cicero Avenue
4.9 mi · 8 min · Cicero Avenue
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19
Turn left onto 167th Street
855 ft · 26 sec · 167th Street
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20
Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
3048 ft · 1 min
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21
Merge slight left
156.5 mi · 2 hr 49 min
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22
Take the exit slight right toward IL 16 East: Charleston
1676 ft · 47 sec
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23
Turn straight onto Charleston Avenue East
1.2 km · 1 min · Charleston Avenue East
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24
Continue on Illinois Route 16
6 mi · 8 min · Illinois Route 16
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25
Continue on West Lincoln Avenue
1.8 mi · 3 min · West Lincoln Avenue
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26
Turn right onto 18th Street
1.6 mi · 2 min · 18th Street
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27
Continue on Illinois Route 130
1.2 km · 1 min · Illinois Route 130
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28
Continue on Route 130
10 mi · 15 min · Route 130
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29
Continue on County Road 1825 East
2 mi · 3 min · County Road 1825 East
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30
Continue on County Road 1775 E
1.3 km · 1 min · County Road 1775 E
-
31
Continue on North Haughton Highway
1945 ft · 33 sec · North Haughton Highway
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32
Continue on 1700E
1.3 mi · 2 min · 1700E
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33
Continue on North Haughton Highway
4 mi · 6 min · North Haughton Highway
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34
Continue on County Road 1700E
2.1 mi · 3 min · County Road 1700E
-
35
Continue on North 1250th Street
11.2 mi · 17 min · North 1250th Street
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36
Turn left
87 m · 15 sec
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37
Turn left
155 m · 19 sec
-
38
Turn straight onto North 1100th Avenue
12 mi · 18 min · North 1100th Avenue
-
39
Continue on East Main Street
2637 ft · 45 sec · East Main Street
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40
Continue on W Main St
1 km · 57 sec · W Main St
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41
Continue on East 1050th Avenue
6.9 mi · 10 min · East 1050th Avenue
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42
Continue on West Main Street
2.7 mi · 5 min · West Main Street
-
43
Continue on East 1050th Ave
5.3 mi · 9 min · East 1050th Ave
-
44
Continue on North Washington Street
922 ft · 19 sec · North Washington Street
-
45
Continue on West Washington Street
98 m · 7 sec · West Washington Street
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46
Continue on West Franklin Street
2213 ft · 46 sec · West Franklin Street
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47
Turn right onto North Main Street
22 m · 3 sec · North Main Street
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48
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Elgin and Palestine.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 57 South
Merge slight left
157 mi · 02h 49m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Elgin and Mostly Sunny near Palestine.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Elgin to Palestine?
The road trip is about 276.9 miles (445.7 km) and usually takes 05h 50m 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?
Ludlow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138.5 miles from Elgin and 138.4 miles from Palestine.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 212.5 miles (342 km), while the road route adds roughly 64.4 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 5:20 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.84 one way or $73.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Elgin and Mostly Sunny near Palestine.
Stop Ideas Near Ludlow
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 Ludlow.
Rantoul
Illinois Terminal
Gilman
Danville, Illinois
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and Palestine. Straight-line distance: 212.52 mi (342.02 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 Palestine
Village in Crawford County, Illinois, US
| Population | 1,263 |
| Coordinates | 39.0036500, -87.6128000 |
| Altitude | 137 |
| Country | United States |
End: Palestine (-87.6128, 39.00365)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 446 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 13m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 55m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 32m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 36m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 57m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 27m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $36.84 | $73.69 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $41.55 | $83.10 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $45.47 | $90.94 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $51.82 | $103.64 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.