Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Elgin travel guide

Elgin Tourism | Elgin Guide

You're Going to Love Elgin

With a population of 108,188, Elgin is a must-see destination in Illinois, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Elgin has to offer.

Where to Eat in Elgin

If you’re looking for affordable options, Jimmy's Charhouse - Elgin (2290 Point Blvd) and Buckingham's - Grand Victoria Casino (250 S Grove Ave) are great picks.

When to visit Elgin

Elgin in November
Estimated hotel price
$89
1 night at 3-star hotel
Elgin in November
Estimated hotel price
$89
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Elgin in July, when the average temperature is 73.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 84.2 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 12.2 °F, with an average temperature of 21.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 4.2″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Elgin, with an average rainfall of 1.4″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Elgin

Plane

Although Elgin doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Chicago All airports (CHI), which is located 35 miles from Elgin. Chicago All airports is the most popular, with regular flights from Southwest, Lufthansa, United Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Elgin departs from Tampa and takes around 2h 38m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Elgin. The train journey from Elgin to Milwaukee takes 1h 19m and costs around $21 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from South Bend, expect to pay about $29 for a 1h 54m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Elgin is to pick up a car rental from Chicago, which is about 35 miles from Elgin. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Turo, among others, in Chicago.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Elgin, including Amtrak, Greyhound and FlixBus. From Madison, the bus ride to Elgin takes 180 miles and will cost you around $74. From Champaign, the ticket costs about $30 for a journey of 190 miles.

Plane

Although Elgin doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Chicago All airports (CHI), which is located 35 miles from Elgin. Chicago All airports is the most popular, with regular flights from Southwest, Lufthansa, United Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Elgin departs from Tampa and takes around 2h 38m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Elgin. The train journey from Elgin to Milwaukee takes 1h 19m and costs around $21 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from South Bend, expect to pay about $29 for a 1h 54m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Elgin is to pick up a car rental from Chicago, which is about 35 miles from Elgin. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Turo, among others, in Chicago.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Elgin, including Amtrak, Greyhound and FlixBus. From Madison, the bus ride to Elgin takes 180 miles and will cost you around $74. From Champaign, the ticket costs about $30 for a journey of 190 miles.

Airports near Elgin

MKEMilwaukee-Mitchell
MSNMadison Truax Field

Airlines serving Elgin

Lufthansa
Good (7,044 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,836 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,935 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,698 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,696 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,215 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,243 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,349 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,967 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,922 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,076 reviews)
Spirit Airlines
Good (7,961 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,287 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,317 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (851 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,459 reviews)
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Where to stay in popular areas of Elgin

Most booked hotels in Elgin

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Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago Northwest - Elgin
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 487 reviews)
$131+
View
Sonesta Select Chicago Elgin West Dundee
3 stars
Good (7.9, 414 reviews)
$99+
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Comfort Suites Elgin
2 stars
Good (7.9, 249 reviews)
$104+
View
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Elgin, IL
2 stars
Good (7.5, 590 reviews)
$101+
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Quality Inn Elgin I-90
2 stars
Good (7.2, 636 reviews)
$79+
View
The Mansion Bed and Breakfast
2 stars
Poor (0, 0 reviews)
$157+
View

Renting a car in Elgin

Renting a car in Elgin costs $53 per day, on average, or $213 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

Expect to pay $3.41 per gallon in Elgin (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Elgin is Full-size (Ford Transit or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Class Compact Car or similar) are, on average, 81% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Elgin costs $53 per day, on average, or $213 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

Expect to pay $3.41 per gallon in Elgin (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Elgin is Full-size (Ford Transit or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Class Compact Car or similar) are, on average, 81% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Car rental agencies in Elgin

Hertz

Hertz
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Elgin Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Elgin city guide for the best Elgin travel tips. To help you organize your Elgin trip ideas, this Elgin visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.