How far is Elk Grove, IL from Harvard, IL?

The driving distance from Elk Grove, IL to Harvard, IL is about 53.9 miles (86.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 44.8 miles (72.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
53.93 mi
01h 08m
Flight
44.83 mi
72.14 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elk Grove.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
44.83 mi
Kilometers
72.14 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
53.93 mi
Kilometers
86.79 km
Drive Time
01h 08m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Harvard
Sun, May 3, 10:05 AM CDT
Return by in Elk Grove
Sun, May 3, 11:13 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elk Grove
2026-05-03T08:56
Arrive Harvard
Sun, May 3, 10:05 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:09 AM to 11:09 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:12 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elk Grove
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Gilberts
IL

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

From Elk Grove
26.9 mi
00h 34m
To Harvard
27 mi
00h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
42°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Sun, May 3 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW
Destination
39°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sun, May 3 4:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Elk Grove and Harvard.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elk Grove and Harvard.

  1. 1

    Start on South Elmhurst Road

    71 m · 12 sec · South Elmhurst Road

  2. 2

    Continue on South Elmhurst Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · South Elmhurst Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford

    2878 ft · 1 min

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    30.9 mi · 33 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 20: Hampshire, Marengo

    2399 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    2537 ft · 53 sec · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on East Grant Highway

    1.1 km · 55 sec · East Grant Highway

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Grant Highway

    28 m · 2 sec · East Grant Highway

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto East Grant Highway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · East Grant Highway

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward East Grant Highway

    60 m · 4 sec · East Grant Highway

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto East Grant Highway

    4.4 mi · 6 min · East Grant Highway

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South State Street

    10.6 mi · 16 min · South State Street

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn left onto South Division Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Division Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Division Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elk Grove and Harvard.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
14 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
30.9 mi · 57%
South State Street
10.6 mi · 20%
East Grant Highway
8.4 mi · 16%
South Division Street
1.66 mi · 3%
South Elmhurst Road
0.88 mi · 2%
I 90 West Toll
0.54 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

30.9 mi · 00h 33m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 08m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.1 mi
44.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gilberts
00h 34m from Elk Grove
Leave By
4:12 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Elk Grove and Mostly Cloudy near Harvard.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elk Grove to Harvard?

The road trip is about 53.9 miles (86.8 km) and usually takes 01h 08m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Gilberts is a useful midpoint, sitting about 26.9 miles from Elk Grove and 27 miles from Harvard.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 44.8 miles (72.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:12 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.16 one way or $14.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Elk Grove and Mostly Cloudy near Harvard.

Stop Ideas Near Gilberts

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Gilberts, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Gilberts.

RAIL

Naperville

41 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Glenview station

47 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Plano

51 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

52 mi away
25 West Burlington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elk Grove and Harvard. Straight-line distance: 44.83 mi (72.14 km).

Elk Grove

#1 Elk Grove

Township in Cook County, Illinois

Population31,831
Coordinates42.0072500, -87.9403400
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Harvard

#2 Harvard

Private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Population8,979
Coordinates42.4222400, -88.6137100
Altitude292
CountryUnited States
Start: Elk Grove (-87.94034, 42.00725)
End: Harvard (-88.61371, 42.42224)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 87 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.9 gal
7.2 L · about $7.16
Round trip
$14.33
3.8 gal · 14.4 L
Estimated CO2
16.9 kg one way
Round trip: 33.8 kg / 75 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.16 $14.33
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.08 $16.16
Premium $4.65 $8.84 $17.69
Diesel $5.30 $10.08 $20.16

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · May 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Elk Grove and Harvard. The current time is 08:56:41.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.