How far is Metropolis, IL from Elgin, IL?
The driving distance from Metropolis, IL to Elgin, IL is about 404.1 miles (650.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 21m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 338.5 miles (544.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 06h 21m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Township in Douglas County, Illinois
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 Metropolis and Elgin.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metropolis and Elgin.
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1
Start on West 5th Street
14 m · 9 sec · West 5th Street
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2
Turn left onto Ferry Street
1985 ft · 1 min · Ferry Street
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3
Turn left onto West 10th Street
876 ft · 29 sec · West 10th Street
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4
Turn right onto Pearl Street
594 ft · 17 sec · Pearl Street
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5
Turn slight left onto North Avenue
6.3 mi · 10 min · North Avenue
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6
Continue on New Columbia Road
4.3 mi · 6 min · New Columbia Road
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7
Turn right onto Big Bay Road
2365 ft · 41 sec · Big Bay Road
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8
Take the ramp left toward New Columbia, Big Bay
1470 ft · 27 sec
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9
Merge slight left
25.4 mi · 27 min
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10
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago
1935 ft · 47 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway
51.7 mi · 56 min · Ken Gray Expressway
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway
67.5 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Ken Gray Expressway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago
185.5 mi · 3 hr 21 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin
1718 ft · 33 sec
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
1.8 mi · 3 min
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16
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
20.8 mi · 26 min · Tri-State Tollway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway
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18
Take the exit slight right toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago
98 m · 8 sec · Tri-State Tollway
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19
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
1.3 km · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway
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20
Keep slight left to continue on I 290 West: Rockford
1.4 km · 2 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Saint Charles Road West
1751 ft · 43 sec
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22
Merge slight left
1.9 mi · 3 min
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23
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 West, IL 64 West: Lake Street, York Road
636 ft · 16 sec
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24
Keep slight left to continue on US 20 West: Lake Street
5.3 mi · 9 min
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25
Continue on Lake Street
5.9 mi · 10 min · Lake Street
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26
Continue on Lake Street
1.3 km · 1 min · Lake Street
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27
Continue on West Lake Street
5.2 mi · 7 min · West Lake Street
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28
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
1279 ft · 22 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
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29
Turn slight left onto Villa Street
2.5 mi · 4 min · Villa Street
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30
Turn left
95 m · 28 sec
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31
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
36 m · 3 sec · East Chicago Street
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Chicago Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Metropolis and Elgin.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 57 North
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago
185 mi · 03h 21m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Metropolis and Sunny near Elgin.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Metropolis to Elgin?
The road trip is about 404.1 miles (650.3 km) and usually takes 06h 21m 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?
Arcola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 195.4 miles from Metropolis and 208.7 miles from Elgin.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 338.5 miles (544.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 65.6 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 $53.77 one way or $107.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 126.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Metropolis and Sunny near Elgin.
Stop Ideas Near Arcola
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 Arcola.
Mattoon station
Illinois Terminal
Effingham
Rantoul
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Metropolis and Elgin. Straight-line distance: 338.45 mi (544.68 km).
#1 Metropolis
Very large and significant city or urban area usually with millions of inhabitants
| Population | 5,885 |
| Coordinates | 37.1511700, -88.7320000 |
| Altitude | 110 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Elgin
The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.
| Population | 110,196 |
| Coordinates | 42.0372500, -88.2811900 |
| Altitude | 227 |
| Country | United States |
End: East Chicago Street (-88.281194, 42.037244)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 650 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 27m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 06m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 04m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 44m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 46m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 02m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $53.77 | $107.55 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $60.65 | $121.30 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $66.37 | $132.73 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $75.64 | $151.27 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.