Burgess, IL to Elgin, IL is 171.2 miles and takes about 3h 40m via IL 110, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a drive that's primarily highway-focused, making it a straightforward journey. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll have plenty of time to reach Elgin without needing an overnight stay. It's a practical option for moving between these two points efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.6 miles from Burgess, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 40m. Total distance: 171.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is largely highway-focused, with 80% of it utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a good portion of your drive on IL 110 and the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, experiencing a fairly consistent driving pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 94.2 miles, primarily on IL 110, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. While it's predominantly highway, this doesn't necessarily mean it's monotonous, but rather that the focus is on covering ground efficiently.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IL 110 is the longest continuous segment at about 94.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 110 and East Lincoln Highway. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.2 miles in near US 150.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 171.2 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.2 miles (US 150): Navigation decision point; at 28 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.4 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
19.2 mi into trip|~35m in|US 150
At end of road, turn left onto US 150
Navigation decision point
6
28 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the ramp toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
6
44.4 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|IL 110
Take the exit onto IL 110 toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4B
Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Fa...
6
138.6 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward DeKalb, Sycamore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 94
Toward DeKalb, Sycamore
6
138.9 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Burgess, IL and Elgin, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island, Rock Falls, Dekalb and Sycamore.
Rock Island
28 mi in|~48m
Rock Falls
44.4 mi in|~1h 6m|via IL 110
Dekalb
138.6 mi in|~2h 48m
Sycamore
138.6 mi in|~2h 48m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IL 110
94.2 mi
1h 41m
East Lincoln Highway
16.6 mi
22m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
16.1 mi
17m
IL 17
7.2 mi
10m
US 150
6.4 mi
9m
IL 31
6.1 mi
11m
US 67
5.4 mi
8m
West Main Street
3.7 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
IL 110
— 94.2 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burgess, IL and Elgin, IL.
1
Start on 41st Avenue
0.1 mi·33 sec·41st Avenue
2
Turn straight onto 235th Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·235th Street
3
Turn left onto 40th Avenue
2.6 mi·10 min·40th Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 67
5.4 mi·8 min·US 67
5
Turn right onto IL 17
7.2 mi·10 min·IL 17
6
Continue on IL 17
3.7 mi·5 min·West Main Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 150
6.4 mi·9 min·US 150
8
Turn right onto IL 81
0.8 mi·1 min·IL 81
9
Continue on IL 81
0.4 mi·38 sec·South Street
10
Continue on IL 81
1.2 mi·1 min·IL 81
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 74 West: Moline, Rock Island
12
Merge onto I 74; IL 110
9.8 mi·10 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 110
6.3 mi·6 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
14
Take the exit onto IL 110
94 mi·1 hr 41 min·IL 110
Exit 4BToward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 94Toward DeKalb, Sycamore
16
Keep slight right at fork
165 ft·6 sec
Use the left / right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto Peace Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Peace Road
18
Turn right onto IL 38
17 mi·22 min·East Lincoln Highway
19
Turn left onto CR 81
2.3 mi·3 min·LaFox Road
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on CR 2
0.3 mi·31 sec·Burlington Road
21
Enter roundabout onto Bolcum Road
22 ft·0 sec·Bolcum Road
22
Continue on Bolcum Road
3.2 mi·5 min·Bolcum Road
23
Turn left onto CR 34
0.8 mi·1 min·Randall Road
24
Turn right onto CR 5
1.0 mi·1 min·Silver Glen Road
25
At end of road, turn left onto IL 31
6.1 mi·11 min·IL 31
26
Turn right onto East Chicago Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·East Chicago Street
27
Arrive at destination
East Chicago Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 40m estimated drive time, starting your journey in the morning is advisable to allow for flexibility. You'll only have one recommended stop, so plan it strategically along IL 110 to break up the 94.2-mile stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $25, and it's always wise to refuel before hitting the longest segment. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the advantage of not needing to rush, allowing for a more relaxed pace.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 85.6 miles from Burgess, IL, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 38 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.6 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elgin, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burgess, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Burgess, IL
This is one driving day of about 171.2 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Burgess, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on IL 110 for about 94.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.6 mi from Burgess, IL
· 1h 51m into the drive
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 85.6
Sterling, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–1 pm
+18155905472
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.42 one way
$50.83 round trip
$3.77/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$28.67
$57.33
premium
$4.65
$31.37
$62.74
diesel
$5.30
$35.75
$71.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.4
0
$17.98
$8.22
Efficient EV
42.8
0
$14.98
$6.85
EV Truck/SUV
68.5
0
$23.97
$10.96
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Burgess, IL
Morning
in Burgess on Saturday
Local time
10:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elgin, IL
Morning
in Elgin on Saturday
Local time
10:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
WNW 20 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:31AM CDT until April 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 4:02AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
10 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 40m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Burgess, IL to Elgin, IL covers 171.2 miles and takes about 3h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IL 110, East Lincoln Highway, Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.6 miles from Burgess, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 171.2 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.2 miles (US 150): Navigation decision point; at 28 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.4 miles (IL 110): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Burgess, IL and Elgin, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island, Rock Falls, Dekalb and Sycamore.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
