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

The driving distance from Elk Grove, IL to Sparta, IL is about 322.3 miles (518.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 284 miles (457.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 03m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
322.31 mi
06h 31m
Flight
284.05 mi
457.14 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
284.05 mi
Kilometers
457.14 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
322.31 mi
Kilometers
518.7 km
Drive Time
06h 31m

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 06h 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sparta
Sat, Apr 25, 2:08 PM CDT
Return by in Elk Grove
Sat, Apr 25, 8:40 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elk Grove
2026-04-25T07:36
Arrive Sparta
Sat, Apr 25, 2:08 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:32 PM to 2:02 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:56 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elk Grove
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Lawndale
IL

Unincorporated community in Illinois, United States

From Elk Grove
161.2 mi
03h 15m
To Sparta
161.1 mi
03h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph NE
Destination
75°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Elmhurst Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · South Elmhurst Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Devon Avenue

    1.6 km · 2 min · Devon Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Busse Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Busse Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Kingery Highway

    2 mi · 3 min · Kingery Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Robert Kingery Highway

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Robert Kingery Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Kingery Highway

    11.3 mi · 18 min · Kingery Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet

    2800 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    116.9 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

    64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    59 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 4: Staunton, Lebanon

    1411 ft · 32 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left

    38.9 mi · 1 hr

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Main Avenue

    12.9 mi · 22 min · Main Avenue

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn left

    9.6 mi · 14 min

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Market Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
15 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 South
124 mi · 39%
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
117 mi · 36%
Kingery Highway
13.3 mi · 4%
Main Avenue
12.9 mi · 4%
Busse Road
2.14 mi · 1%
Robert Kingery Highway
1.95 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

117 mi · 02h 10m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 31m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.3 mi
284 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lawndale
03h 15m from Elk Grove
Leave By
10:56 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Elk Grove and Sunny near Sparta.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 322.3 miles (518.7 km) and usually takes 06h 31m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lawndale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 161.2 miles from Elk Grove and 161.1 miles from Sparta.

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

The direct path is about 284 miles (457.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.3 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.88 one way or $85.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Elk Grove and Sunny near Sparta.

Stop Ideas Near Lawndale

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Lawndale and the surrounding midpoint area.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
Scenic stop 7 mi away

Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!

Atlanta , IL
865 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL 61723, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Tourist attraction
City of Lincoln
Meeting point 4 mi away

City of Lincoln

Lincoln , IL
700 Broadway St, Lincoln, IL 62656
Rating 3.8/5 4 reviews City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lawndale.

RAIL

Lincoln

10 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Uptown Station

41 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Springfield station

56 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

61 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elk Grove and Sparta. Straight-line distance: 284.05 mi (457.14 km).

Elk Grove

#1 Elk Grove

Township in Cook County, Illinois

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

#2 Sparta

City in Randolph County, Illinois

Population4,202
Coordinates38.1231100, -89.7017700
Altitude161
CountryUnited States
Start: Elk Grove (-87.94034, 42.00725)
End: Sparta (-89.70177, 38.12311)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 519 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.37 gal
43.05 L · about $42.88
Round trip
$85.75
22.74 gal · 86.1 L
Estimated CO2
101 kg one way
Round trip: 202.1 kg / 446 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $42.88 $85.75
Mid-grade $4.25 $48.36 $96.71
Premium $4.65 $52.92 $105.83
Diesel $5.30 $60.31 $120.61

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Elk Grove and Sparta. The current time is 07:36:33.

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.