How far is Lake in the Hills, IL from Elgin, IL?

The driving distance from Lake in the Hills, IL to Elgin, IL is about 12.3 miles (19.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 10.3 miles (16.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
12.27 mi
00h 24m
Flight
10.3 mi
16.57 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake in the Hills.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
10.3 mi
Kilometers
16.57 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
12.27 mi
Kilometers
19.75 km
Drive Time
00h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elgin
Tue, Apr 14, 5:40 PM CDT
Return by in Lake in the Hills
Tue, Apr 14, 6:05 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake in the Hills
2026-04-14T17:16
Arrive Elgin
Tue, Apr 14, 5:40 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:25 AM to 7:25 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Lake in the Hills
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Gilberts
IL

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

From Lake in the Hills
6.2 mi
00h 12m
To Elgin
6.2 mi
00h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SSW
Destination
76°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lake in the Hills and Elgin.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake in the Hills and Elgin.

  1. 1

    Start on West Acorn Lane

    1346 ft · 1 min · West Acorn Lane

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Randall Road

    2241 ft · 50 sec · North Randall Road

  3. 3

    Continue on South Randall Road

    6.7 mi · 11 min · South Randall Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto I 90 East Toll: Chicago

    1846 ft · 47 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 31 South

    2175 ft · 53 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto North State Street

    2 mi · 5 min · North State Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto East Chicago Street

    1719 ft · 55 sec · East Chicago Street

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Chicago Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake in the Hills 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
9 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
73.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Randall Road
6.68 mi · 54%
North State Street
2.01 mi · 16%
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
1.8 mi · 15%
North Randall Road
0.42 mi · 3%
IL 31 South
0.41 mi · 3%
I 90 East Toll
0.35 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

South Randall Road

Continue on South Randall Road

6.68 mi · 00h 11m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 24m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2 mi
10.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gilberts
00h 12m from Lake in the Hills
Leave By
7:40 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Lake in the Hills and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Elgin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake in the Hills to Elgin?

The road trip is about 12.3 miles (19.8 km) and usually takes 00h 24m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Gilberts is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.2 miles from Lake in the Hills and 6.2 miles from Elgin.

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

The direct path is about 10.3 miles (16.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 2 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:40 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.62 one way or $3.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Lake in the Hills and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Elgin.

Stop Ideas Near Gilberts

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

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

RAIL

Naperville

41 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Glenview station

47 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Plano

51 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

52 mi away
25 West Burlington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake in the Hills and Elgin. Straight-line distance: 10.3 mi (16.57 km).

Lake in the Hills

#1 Lake in the Hills

Village in Illinois

Population28,345
Coordinates42.1816900, -88.3303600
Altitude264
CountryUnited States
Elgin

#2 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

Population110,196
Coordinates42.0372500, -88.2811900
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
Start: Crystal Lake Road (-88.330311, 42.181713)
End: East Chicago Street (-88.281194, 42.037244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 20 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.43 gal
1.64 L · about $1.62
Round trip
$3.24
0.86 gal · 3.28 L
Estimated CO2
3.8 kg one way
Round trip: 7.6 kg / 17 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $1.62 $3.24
Mid-grade $4.25 $1.83 $3.66
Premium $4.65 $2.00 $4.00
Diesel $5.30 $2.28 $4.56

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 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake in the Hills and Elgin. The current time is 17:16:22.

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.