How far is Knollwood, IL from Elgin, IL?

The driving distance from Knollwood, IL to Elgin, IL is about 49.9 miles (80.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 26.6 miles (42.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST.
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
49.87 mi
00h 54m
Flight
26.57 mi
42.76 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Knollwood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
26.57 mi
Kilometers
42.76 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
49.87 mi
Kilometers
80.26 km
Drive Time
00h 54m

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 00h 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elgin
Sat, Nov 7, 12:00 AM CST
Return by in Knollwood
Sat, Nov 7, 12:55 AM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Knollwood
2026-11-06T23:06
Arrive Elgin
Sat, Nov 7, 12:00 AM CST
Route Timing
00h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:54 AM to 10:54 AM CST

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

Leave by
4:42 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Knollwood
9:30 PM CST
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
Arlington Heights
IL

Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States; suburb of Chicago, Illinois

From Knollwood
20.9 mi
00h 27m
To Elgin
29 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
46°F
Today

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 7:00 AM CST
Wind
10 to 15 mph NNW
Destination
36°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 12:00 AM CST
Wind
10 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Plaister Avenue

    685 ft · 33 sec · Plaister Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Waukegan Road

    2646 ft · 54 sec · North Waukegan Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Rockland Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Rockland Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 Toll East: Indiana

    1783 ft · 44 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    9.1 mi · 10 min · Tri-State Tollway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward Willow Road

    1072 ft · 26 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    1015 ft · 25 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Willow Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Willow Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Palatine Road

    6.2 mi · 9 min · Palatine Road

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 53 South

    1330 ft · 33 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    3.2 mi · 4 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 90 Toll: Rockford, Chicago

    1785 ft · 28 sec

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 62: Algonquin Road

    1810 ft · 44 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto West Algonquin Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · West Algonquin Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Meacham Road

    3070 ft · 1 min · North Meacham Road

  17. 17

    Take the ramp right toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford

    2686 ft · 1 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    10.3 mi · 11 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 25

    154 m · 12 sec

  20. 20

    Continue on IL 25

    2671 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    648 ft · 18 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Dundee Avenue

    2 mi · 4 min · Dundee Avenue

  23. 23

    Continue on Center Street

    694 ft · 24 sec · Center Street

  24. 24

    Turn right

    95 m · 28 sec

  25. 25

    Turn left onto East Chicago Street

    36 m · 3 sec · East Chicago Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Chicago Street

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
52.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
12.6 mi · 25%
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
10.3 mi · 21%
Palatine Road
6.23 mi · 12%
IL 53 South
3.49 mi · 7%
Dundee Avenue
1.97 mi · 4%
Rockland Road
1.74 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

10.3 mi · 00h 11m

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
00h 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.3 mi
26.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arlington Heights
00h 27m from Knollwood
Leave By
4:42 PM CST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Knollwood and Mostly Cloudy near Elgin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 49.9 miles (80.3 km) and usually takes 00h 54m 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?

Arlington Heights is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.9 miles from Knollwood and 29 miles from Elgin.

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

The direct path is about 26.6 miles (42.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:42 PM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.11 one way or $16.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Knollwood and Mostly Cloudy near Elgin.

Stop Ideas Near Arlington Heights

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

15 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

32 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

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

Naperville

37 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Knollwood and Elgin. Straight-line distance: 26.57 mi (42.76 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Knollwood

Knollwood is a place in Illinois, United States.

Population0
Coordinates42.2861300, -87.8856300
Altitude214
CountryUnited States
Elgin

#2 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

Population110,196
Coordinates42.0372500, -88.2811900
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
Start: Plaister Avenue (-87.885633, 42.286137)
End: East Chicago Street (-88.281194, 42.037244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 80 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 39m
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 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.76 gal
6.66 L · about $8.11
Round trip
$16.22
3.52 gal · 13.32 L
Estimated CO2
15.6 kg one way
Round trip: 31.3 kg / 69 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.61 $8.11 $16.22
Mid-grade $5.24 $9.22 $18.44
Premium $5.79 $10.20 $20.39
Diesel $6.59 $11.60 $23.20

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 · Nov 06, 2026

There is no time difference between Knollwood and Elgin. The current time is 23:06:27.

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.