How far is Elgin, IL from University Park, IL?

The driving distance from Elgin, IL to University Park, IL is about 49.3 miles (79.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 43.4 miles (69.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 23m 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
49.34 mi
01h 11m
Flight
43.44 mi
69.91 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
43.44 mi
Kilometers
69.91 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
49.34 mi
Kilometers
79.41 km
Drive Time
01h 11m

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 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in University Park
Thu, Apr 16, 6:33 AM CDT
Return by in Elgin
Thu, Apr 16, 7:45 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elgin
2026-04-16T05:22
Arrive University Park
Thu, Apr 16, 6:33 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:12 AM to 11:12 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:06 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
Oak Brook
IL

Village in DuPage County in Illinois

From Elgin
24.7 mi
00h 35m
To University Park
24.7 mi
00h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph WSW
Destination
70°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elgin and University Park.

  1. 1

    Start on East Chicago Street

    10 m · 5 sec · East Chicago Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Villa Street

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Villa Street

  3. 3

    Merge slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

    1583 ft · 29 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on West Lake Street

    5.2 mi · 7 min · West Lake Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Lake Street

    6.7 mi · 11 min · Lake Street

  6. 6

    Continue on West Lake Street

    5.1 mi · 8 min · West Lake Street

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left toward I 290 East, US 20 East: Chicago

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

    1648 ft · 40 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1 mi · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    42 m · 2 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway

  14. 14

    Continue on Mile-Long Bridge

    1.5 km · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge

  15. 15

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    14.1 mi · 18 min · Tri-State Tollway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6: 159th Street

    1517 ft · 37 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on US 6 West: 159th Street

    2223 ft · 54 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto West 159th Street

    548 ft · 21 sec · West 159th Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Richmond Avenue

    1328 ft · 1 min · Richmond Avenue

  20. 20

    Continue on Richmond Avenue

    85 m · 16 sec · Richmond Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Sussex Avenue

    1249 ft · 55 sec · Sussex Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on California Avenue

    577 ft · 27 sec · California Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Lancaster Drive

    40 m · 6 sec · Lancaster Drive

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Lancaster Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
48.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
23.8 mi · 48%
West Lake Street
10.3 mi · 21%
Lake Street
6.73 mi · 14%
I 290 East
3.06 mi · 6%
Villa Street
2.43 mi · 5%
Mile-Long Bridge
0.94 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Continue on Tri-State Tollway

14.1 mi · 00h 18m

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 11m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.9 mi
43.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Oak Brook
00h 35m from Elgin
Leave By
4:06 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Elgin and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near University Park.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elgin to University Park?

The road trip is about 49.3 miles (79.4 km) and usually takes 01h 11m 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?

Oak Brook is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24.7 miles from Elgin and 24.7 miles from University Park.

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

The direct path is about 43.4 miles (69.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.9 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 4:06 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.56 one way or $13.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Elgin and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near University Park.

Stop Ideas Near Oak Brook

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

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

RAIL

La Grange Road

5 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

11 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

Naperville

19 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

25 mi away
225 South Canal Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and University Park. Straight-line distance: 43.44 mi (69.91 km).

Elgin

#1 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

Population110,196
Coordinates42.0372500, -88.2811900
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
University Park

#2 University Park

Village in Will County, Illinois, United States

Population6,817
Coordinates41.5922565, -87.6853251
Altitude188
CountryUnited States
Start: Elgin (-88.28119, 42.03725)
End: University Park (-87.685325, 41.592257)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 79 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.74 gal
6.59 L · about $6.56
Round trip
$13.12
3.48 gal · 13.18 L
Estimated CO2
15.5 kg one way
Round trip: 30.9 kg / 68 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.56 $13.12
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.40 $14.80
Premium $4.65 $8.10 $16.20
Diesel $5.30 $9.23 $18.46

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

There is no time difference between Elgin and University Park. The current time is 05:22:05.

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.