How far is Elgin, IL from Winamac, IN?
The driving distance from Elgin, IL to Winamac, IN is about 138.6 miles (223.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 12m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 110.3 miles (177.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 24m 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 03h 12m.
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.
The most populous city in Lake County, Indiana.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Elgin and Winamac.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elgin and Winamac.
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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
17.5 mi · 24 min
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road
616 ft · 15 sec
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9
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana
1203 ft · 29 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Dan Ryan Expressway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
3.8 mi · 5 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East
2183 ft · 53 sec
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13
Merge slight right onto Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
2612 ft · 50 sec · Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Chicago Skyway
4.5 mi · 7 min · Chicago Skyway
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15
Turn straight onto Chicago Skyway
591 ft · 14 sec · Chicago Skyway
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16
Merge slight left onto Chicago Skyway
3.1 mi · 5 min · Chicago Skyway
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17
Continue on Indiana Toll Road
1.6 km · 2 min · Indiana Toll Road
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18
Turn straight onto Indiana Toll Road
961 ft · 2 min · Indiana Toll Road
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19
Merge slight right onto Indiana Toll Road
1.8 mi · 2 min · Indiana Toll Road
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20
Keep slight left to continue on Indiana Toll Road
27.5 mi · 31 min · Indiana Toll Road
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21
Take the exit slight right toward SR 49: Chesterton, Valparaiso
1.2 km · 2 min
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22
Turn right
9 mi · 12 min
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23
Take the exit slight right toward US 30 East: Plymouth
1548 ft · 39 sec
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24
Merge slight left onto East Morthland Drive
21.6 mi · 28 min · East Morthland Drive
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25
Take the exit slight right
949 ft · 26 sec
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26
Keep slight right
740 ft · 20 sec
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27
Turn straight onto North 400 East
6.2 mi · 9 min · North 400 East
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28
Continue on North Heaton Street
2.1 mi · 4 min · North Heaton Street
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29
Continue on South 400 E
3.9 mi · 5 min · South 400 E
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30
Continue on S 400 E
1.4 mi · 2 min · S 400 E
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31
Continue on South 400 East
10.5 mi · 16 min · South 400 East
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Monticello Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Elgin and Winamac.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
Indiana Toll Road
Keep slight left to continue on Indiana Toll Road
27.5 mi · 00h 31m
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.
Sunny leaving Elgin and Sunny near Winamac.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Elgin to Winamac?
The road trip is about 138.6 miles (223.1 km) and usually takes 03h 12m 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?
Gary is a useful midpoint, sitting about 69.2 miles from Elgin and 69.4 miles from Winamac.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 110.3 miles (177.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.3 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 10:36 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.97 one way or $45.94 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 43.5 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Elgin and Winamac, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Elgin and Sunny near Winamac.
Stop Ideas Near Gary
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 Gary.
Gary, IN
Hammond–Whiting station
Dyer station
Homewood
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Elgin and Winamac. Straight-line distance: 110.31 mi (177.53 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 Winamac
County seat in Indiana
| Population | 2,295 |
| Coordinates | 41.0514300, -86.6030600 |
| Altitude | 215 |
| Country | United States |
End: Winamac (-86.60306, 41.05143)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 223 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 04h 37m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 27m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 02h 46m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 18m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 01h 58m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 43m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.70 | $22.97 | $45.94 |
| Mid-grade | $5.32 | $26.02 | $52.04 |
| Premium | $5.87 | $28.69 | $57.38 |
| Diesel | $6.58 | $32.17 | $64.33 |
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 · Oct 13, 2026