How far is Elgin, IL from Wadsworth, IL?

The driving distance from Elgin, IL to Wadsworth, IL is about 41.6 miles (66.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 32.6 miles (52.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 13m 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
41.56 mi
01h 06m
Flight
32.64 mi
52.53 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
32.64 mi
Kilometers
52.53 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
41.56 mi
Kilometers
66.88 km
Drive Time
01h 06m

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 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wadsworth
Sun, Apr 19, 4:46 PM CDT
Return by in Elgin
Sun, Apr 19, 5:52 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elgin
2026-04-19T15:39
Arrive Wadsworth
Sun, Apr 19, 4:46 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:16 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
Wauconda
IL

Village in Lake County, Illinois, United States

From Elgin
20.8 mi
00h 33m
To Wadsworth
20.8 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph WNW
Destination
50°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Chicago Street

    10 m · 8 sec · East Chicago Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Center Street

    846 ft · 24 sec · Center Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Dundee Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Dundee Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Page Avenue

    612 ft · 18 sec · Page Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto North Liberty Street

    905 ft · 20 sec · North Liberty Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Dundee Avenue

    2862 ft · 50 sec · Dundee Avenue

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 Toll West, I 90 Toll East: Rockford, Chicago

    765 ft · 19 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on I 90 West, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago

    148 m · 12 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 90 Toll East: Chicago

    2012 ft · 49 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 59

    2334 ft · 60 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto New Sutton Road

    3.6 mi · 6 min · New Sutton Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Dundee Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Dundee Road

  14. 14

    Continue on New Sutton Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · New Sutton Road

  15. 15

    Continue on South Hough Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · South Hough Street

  16. 16

    Continue on North Hough Road

    6.4 mi · 10 min · North Hough Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Barrington Road

    2852 ft · 1 min · Barrington Road

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West Liberty Street

    3.4 mi · 6 min · West Liberty Street

  19. 19

    Turn right

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    46 m · 4 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Schank Avenue

    797 ft · 24 sec · Schank Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on Ivanhoe Road

    2 mi · 3 min · Ivanhoe Road

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Peterson Road

    2683 ft · 57 sec · Peterson Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto North Midlothian Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Midlothian Road

  25. 25

    Continue on West Casey Road

    2.7 mi · 5 min · West Casey Road

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North Milwaukee Avenue

    3.2 mi · 5 min · North Milwaukee Avenue

  27. 27

    Continue on North Milwaukee Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · North Milwaukee Avenue

  28. 28

    Continue on North Riverside Drive

    1.4 mi · 2 min · North Riverside Drive

  29. 29

    Continue on North Skokie Highway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · North Skokie Highway

  30. 30

    Turn right onto West Wadsworth Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · West Wadsworth Road

  31. 31

    Turn right onto North Chicago Avenue

    18 m · 3 sec · North Chicago Avenue

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Chicago Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
32 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
76.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Hough Road
6.35 mi · 15%
New Sutton Road
5.29 mi · 13%
North Milwaukee Avenue
3.87 mi · 9%
West Liberty Street
3.43 mi · 8%
North Skokie Highway
2.91 mi · 7%
West Casey Road
2.69 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

North Hough Road

Continue on North Hough Road

6.35 mi · 00h 10m

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 06m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9 mi
32.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wauconda
00h 33m from Elgin
Leave By
4:16 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Elgin and Mostly Sunny near Wadsworth.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 41.6 miles (66.9 km) and usually takes 01h 06m 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?

Wauconda is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.8 miles from Elgin and 20.8 miles from Wadsworth.

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

The direct path is about 32.6 miles (52.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 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 4:16 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.54 one way or $11.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Wauconda

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

34 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Naperville

53 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

La Grange Road

54 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Sturtevant station

55 mi away
9900 East Exploration Court

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and Wadsworth. Straight-line distance: 32.64 mi (52.53 km).

Elgin

#1 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

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

#2 Wadsworth

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

Population3,631
Coordinates42.4286300, -87.9239700
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Start: Elgin (-88.28119, 42.03725)
End: Wadsworth (-87.92397, 42.42863)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 67 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.47 gal
5.55 L · about $5.54
Round trip
$11.09
2.94 gal · 11.1 L
Estimated CO2
13.1 kg one way
Round trip: 26.1 kg / 58 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.54 $11.09
Mid-grade $4.25 $6.25 $12.50
Premium $4.65 $6.84 $13.68
Diesel $5.30 $7.80 $15.59

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Elgin and Wadsworth. The current time is 15:39:29.

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.