Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
118.3 mi
190 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
Photo: Mike Tyurin
The drive from Guilford, IL to Elgin, IL covers 118.3 miles and takes about 2h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Rawlins Road, North Elizabeth Scales Mound Road, Madison Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.56 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.2 miles from Guilford, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 9m drive with frequent turns across 118.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Rawlins Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Elizabeth Scales Mound Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Madison Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Diagonal Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| U | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Woodbine Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West North Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Guilford, IL and Elgin, IL.
Start on West Guilford Road
Continue on West Rawlins Road
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Elizabeth Scales Mound Road
At the end of the road, turn left onto Madison Street
Continue on West Diagonal Street
Continue on North Main Street
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on East Woodbine Street
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on West North Avenue
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue on West State Road
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East: Chicago
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left to continue on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Take the exit slight right toward IL 31 South
Turn straight onto North State Street
Turn left onto East Chicago Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.2 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elgin, IL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Guilford, 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 Guilford, IL
This is one driving day of about 118.3 miles and 2h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.2 mi from Guilford, IL · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 59.2 miles from Guilford, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Elgin, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Elgin, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$17.56 one way
$35.13 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $19.81 | $39.62 |
| premium | $4.65 | $21.68 | $43.35 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $24.70 | $49.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.42 | $5.68 |
| Efficient EV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.35 | $4.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.3 | 0 | $16.56 | $7.57 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Guilford on Saturday
Local time
8:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Elgin on Saturday
Local time
8:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
43°F
Rockford, IL
59 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Guilford, IL or browse trips ending in Elgin, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Guilford, IL or Elgin, IL on MapSof.net.
