How far is Willowbrook, IL from Elgin, IL?

The driving distance from Willowbrook, IL to Elgin, IL is about 81.7 miles (131.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 55.5 miles (89.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 01m 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
81.7 mi
01h 30m
Flight
55.47 mi
89.27 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Willowbrook.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
55.47 mi
Kilometers
89.27 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
81.7 mi
Kilometers
131.48 km
Drive Time
01h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elgin
Sun, Apr 19, 1:39 AM CDT
Return by in Willowbrook
Sun, Apr 19, 3:10 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Willowbrook
2026-04-19T00:09
Arrive Elgin
Sun, Apr 19, 1:39 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:31 AM to 11:31 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Willowbrook
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
Justice
IL

Village in Cook County, Illinois

From Willowbrook
34.8 mi
00h 45m
To Elgin
46.9 mi
00h 45m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 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 Willowbrook and Elgin.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Longwood Drive

    100 m · 19 sec · Longwood Drive

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Buried Oak Drive

    1415 ft · 1 min · Buried Oak Drive

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Challas Drive

    1665 ft · 1 min · Challas Drive

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto South State Line Road

    1.3 mi · 3 min · South State Line Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto East Exchange Street

    2.9 mi · 4 min · East Exchange Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Calumet Expressway

    8.9 mi · 12 min · Calumet Expressway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80, I 294 North, I 94 East: Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana

    1385 ft · 34 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West, I 294 North: Iowa, Wisconsin

    1.2 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    4.5 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    24.3 mi · 30 min · Tri-State Tollway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

    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

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.3 km · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 290 West: Rockford

    1.4 km · 2 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Saint Charles Road West

    1751 ft · 43 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 20 West, IL 64 West: Lake Street, York Road

    636 ft · 16 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on US 20 West: Lake Street

    5.3 mi · 9 min

  20. 20

    Continue on Lake Street

    5.9 mi · 10 min · Lake Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Lake Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Lake Street

  22. 22

    Continue on West Lake Street

    5.2 mi · 7 min · West Lake Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

    1279 ft · 22 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

  24. 24

    Turn slight left onto Villa Street

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Villa Street

  25. 25

    Turn left

    95 m · 28 sec

  26. 26

    Turn left onto East Chicago Street

    36 m · 3 sec · East Chicago Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Chicago Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Willowbrook 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
27 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
33 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
31.7 mi · 39%
Calumet Expressway
8.86 mi · 11%
Lake Street
6.73 mi · 8%
US 20 West
5.39 mi · 7%
West Lake Street
5.19 mi · 6%
East Exchange Street
2.86 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

24.3 mi · 00h 30m

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 30m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.2 mi
55.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Justice
00h 45m from Willowbrook
Leave By
3:28 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Willowbrook 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 Willowbrook to Elgin?

The road trip is about 81.7 miles (131.5 km) and usually takes 01h 30m 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?

Justice is a useful midpoint, sitting about 34.8 miles from Willowbrook and 46.9 miles from Elgin.

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

The direct path is about 55.5 miles (89.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:28 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.86 one way or $21.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 25.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny around Willowbrook and Mostly Sunny near Elgin.

Stop Ideas Near Justice

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

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

RAIL

Summit

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

La Grange Road

8 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

22 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

Homewood

25 mi away
18015 Park Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Willowbrook and Elgin. Straight-line distance: 55.47 mi (89.27 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Willowbrook

Town in Will County, Illinois, United States

Population2,076
Coordinates41.4578100, -87.5364300
Altitude218
CountryUnited States
Elgin

#2 Elgin

The second most populous city in Kane County, Illinois.

Population110,196
Coordinates42.0372500, -88.2811900
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
Start: Longwood Drive (-87.536118, 41.455944)
End: East Chicago Street (-88.281194, 42.037244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 131 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.88 gal
10.91 L · about $10.86
Round trip
$21.72
5.76 gal · 21.82 L
Estimated CO2
25.6 kg one way
Round trip: 51.2 kg / 113 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $10.86 $21.72
Mid-grade $4.25 $12.25 $24.50
Premium $4.65 $13.40 $26.81
Diesel $5.30 $15.28 $30.55

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 Willowbrook and Elgin. The current time is 00:09:03.

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.