How far is Elk Grove, IL from Salem, IL?

The driving distance from Elk Grove, IL to Salem, IL is about 267 miles (429.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 239.5 miles (385.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
267 mi
05h 06m
Flight
239.48 mi
385.4 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elk Grove.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
239.48 mi
Kilometers
385.4 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
267 mi
Kilometers
429.7 km
Drive Time
05h 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 05h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salem
Thu, Oct 15, 11:37 PM CDT
Return by in Elk Grove
Fri, Oct 16, 4:43 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elk Grove
2026-10-15T18:31
Arrive Salem
Thu, Oct 15, 11:37 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:06 AM to 1:06 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elk Grove
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Rantoul
IL

Village in Illinois

From Elk Grove
133.5 mi
02h 33m
To Salem
133.5 mi
02h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
84°F
Today

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 9:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 12 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Elk Grove and Salem.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elk Grove and Salem.

  1. 1

    Start on South Elmhurst Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · South Elmhurst Road

  2. 2

    Continue on York Road

    4.3 mi · 8 min · York Road

  3. 3

    Continue on North York Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · North York Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Lake Street

    1569 ft · 34 sec · Lake Street

  5. 5

    Turn slight right

    45 m · 8 sec

  6. 6

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

    3 mi · 4 min

  7. 7

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

    1648 ft · 40 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1 mi · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    42 m · 2 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

    Continue on Mile-Long Bridge

    1.5 km · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge

  14. 14

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    8.5 mi · 11 min · Tri-State Tollway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street

    1162 ft · 28 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue

    2529 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Cicero Avenue

    4.9 mi · 8 min · Cicero Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto 167th Street

    855 ft · 26 sec · 167th Street

  19. 19

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80

    3048 ft · 1 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    188.4 mi · 3 hr 24 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    40.9 mi · 44 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval

    2330 ft · 57 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight left

    28 m · 8 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.6 mi · 4 min · West Main Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto South Broadway

    10 m · 1 sec · South Broadway

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Broadway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elk Grove and Salem.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
26 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
230 mi · 86%
Tri-State Tollway
18.2 mi · 7%
Cicero Avenue
4.89 mi · 2%
York Road
4.28 mi · 2%
I 290 East
3.03 mi · 1%
West Main Street
1.56 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Merge slight left

188 mi · 03h 24m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
05h 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.5 mi
239.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rantoul
02h 33m from Elk Grove
Leave By
6:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Elk Grove and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Salem.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elk Grove to Salem?

The road trip is about 267 miles (429.7 km) and usually takes 05h 06m 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?

Rantoul is a useful midpoint, sitting about 133.5 miles from Elk Grove and 133.5 miles from Salem.

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

The direct path is about 239.5 miles (385.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.5 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 6:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.94 one way or $87.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 83.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Elk Grove and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Salem.

Stop Ideas Near Rantoul

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

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

RAIL

Rantoul

West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

23 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

49 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Gilman

52 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elk Grove and Salem. Straight-line distance: 239.48 mi (385.4 km).

Elk Grove

#1 Elk Grove

Township in Cook County, Illinois

Population31,831
Coordinates42.0072500, -87.9403400
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Salem

#2 Salem

City in Illinois

Population6,952
Coordinates38.6269900, -88.9456200
Altitude165
CountryUnited States
Start: Elk Grove (-87.94034, 42.00725)
End: Salem (-88.94562, 38.62699)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 430 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.42 gal
35.67 L · about $43.94
Round trip
$87.89
18.84 gal · 71.34 L
Estimated CO2
83.7 kg one way
Round trip: 167.4 kg / 369 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $43.94 $87.89
Mid-grade $5.29 $49.85 $99.70
Premium $5.84 $54.98 $109.97
Diesel $6.57 $61.90 $123.80

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Elk Grove and Salem. The current time is 18:31:20.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.