How far is Wadsworth, IL from Elgin, IL?

The driving distance from Wadsworth, IL to Elgin, IL is about 52 miles (83.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 32.6 miles (52.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 04m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
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
52.03 mi
01h 02m
Flight
32.64 mi
52.53 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wadsworth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
32.64 mi
Kilometers
52.53 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
52.03 mi
Kilometers
83.74 km
Drive Time
01h 02m

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 01h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elgin
Sun, Apr 19, 3:15 PM CDT
Return by in Wadsworth
Sun, Apr 19, 4:17 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wadsworth
2026-04-19T14:13
Arrive Elgin
Sun, Apr 19, 3:15 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:02 AM to 11:02 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:26 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wadsworth
9:30 PM CDT
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
Wauconda
IL

Village in Lake County, Illinois, United States

From Wadsworth
20.8 mi
00h 31m
To Elgin
31.3 mi
00h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
50°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph WNW
Destination
51°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Chicago Avenue

    18 m · 8 sec · North Chicago Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Wadsworth Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · West Wadsworth Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Skokie Highway

    2.9 mi · 4 min · North Skokie Highway

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto North Riverside Drive

    1.4 mi · 2 min · North Riverside Drive

  5. 5

    Continue on North Milwaukee Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · North Milwaukee Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Milwaukee Avenue

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Milwaukee Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn right onto West Casey Road

    2.7 mi · 5 min · West Casey Road

  8. 8

    Continue on North Midlothian Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Midlothian Road

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Peterson Road

    2667 ft · 53 sec · Peterson Road

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Ivanhoe Road

    2 mi · 4 min · Ivanhoe Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Schank Avenue

    797 ft · 24 sec · Schank Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn right

    5.4 mi · 9 min

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Barrington Road

    2852 ft · 1 min · Barrington Road

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    7.8 mi · 13 min

  15. 15

    Turn slight right

    87 m · 5 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on New Sutton Road

    6.3 mi · 10 min · New Sutton Road

  17. 17

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford

    2305 ft · 56 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    2.8 mi · 3 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 Wadsworth 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
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
50 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Barrington Road
8.31 mi · 16%
New Sutton Road
6.3 mi · 12%
Milwaukee Avenue
3.24 mi · 6%
North Skokie Highway
2.91 mi · 6%
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
2.81 mi · 5%
West Casey Road
2.69 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Barrington Road

Continue straight

7.77 mi · 00h 13m

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
01h 02m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.4 mi
32.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wauconda
00h 31m from Wadsworth
Leave By
4:26 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Wadsworth and Mostly Sunny near Elgin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 52 miles (83.7 km) and usually takes 01h 02m 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?

Wauconda is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.8 miles from Wadsworth and 31.3 miles from Elgin.

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

The direct path is about 32.6 miles (52.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.4 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:26 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.94 one way or $13.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Wadsworth and Mostly Sunny near Elgin.

Stop Ideas Near Wauconda

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

34 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Naperville

53 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

La Grange Road

54 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Sturtevant station

55 mi away
9900 East Exploration Court

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wadsworth and Elgin. Straight-line distance: 32.64 mi (52.53 km).

Wadsworth

#1 Wadsworth

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

Population3,631
Coordinates42.4286300, -87.9239700
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Elgin

#2 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

Population110,196
Coordinates42.0372500, -88.2811900
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
Start: North Chicago Avenue (-87.924074, 42.42863)
End: East Chicago Street (-88.281194, 42.037244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 84 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.84 gal
6.95 L · about $6.94
Round trip
$13.88
3.68 gal · 13.9 L
Estimated CO2
16.4 kg one way
Round trip: 32.7 kg / 72 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.94 $13.88
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.83 $15.65
Premium $4.65 $8.56 $17.13
Diesel $5.30 $9.76 $19.52

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Wadsworth and Elgin. The current time is 14:13:17.

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.