After training in the Caribbean Sea, Elliot sailed from New York on 28 April 1919 to the Azores; Gibraltar; Malta; and Split, returning to Philadelphia on 4 June.

Reassigned to the Pacific Fleet, she joined Destroyer Division 13 in New York Harbor in welcoming George Washington carrying President Woodrow Wilson back from the peace conference at Paris, then departed for the west coast, arriving at San Diego on 7 August where she was reviewed by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels.

In June, she took Admiral Albert Cleaves, Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet, aboard and sailed up the Yangtze to investigate the murder of an American missionary, William A. Reimert.

In September, she visited Port Arthur and Dalian on intelligence duty, and then returned to her base at Cavite for overhaul.

Recommissioned on 8 February 1930, Elliot ranged the west coast with Destroyer Division 11 as plane guard in battle practice and major fleet problems.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, she was returning to her base with TF 3 from Johnston Island, and at once began anti-submarine patrol duties there.