182 Elsa is a Main belt asteroid. Its surface is brightly coloured and its composition a mixture of silicate rocks and iron-nickel metals.

It was discovered by Johann Palisa on February 7, 1878. The origin of the name is uncertain; it may be named after the character in the legend of Lohengrin perpetuated by Richard Wagner's opera of the same name.

It rotates very slowly; its rotation period (or "day") is about 3.3 Earth days. A possible companion has been proposed to explain the slow rotation.

Elsa has very amplified lightcurve indicating an elongated or irregular body.