How far is Elmhurst, IL from Makanda, IL?

The driving distance from Elmhurst, IL to Makanda, IL is about 345 miles (555.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 303.4 miles (488.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
344.99 mi
06h 36m
Flight
303.42 mi
488.3 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elmhurst.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
303.42 mi
Kilometers
488.3 km
Flight Time
00h 36m

Driving Distance

Road route
344.99 mi
Kilometers
555.21 km
Drive Time
06h 36m

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 06h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Makanda
Wed, Nov 4, 4:01 AM CST
Return by in Elmhurst
Wed, Nov 4, 10:38 AM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elmhurst
2026-11-03T21:25
Arrive Makanda
Wed, Nov 4, 4:01 AM CST
Route Timing
06h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:36 PM to 2:06 PM CST

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:48 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elmhurst
8:00 PM CST
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Arcola
IL

Township in Douglas County, Illinois

From Elmhurst
172.6 mi
03h 18m
To Makanda
172.4 mi
03h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Tuesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, Nov 3 6:00 AM CST
Wind
15 to 20 mph S
Destination
75°F
Tuesday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, Nov 3 6:00 AM CST
Wind
16 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Elmhurst and Makanda.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst and Makanda.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    81 m · 25 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    15 m · 9 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Park Avenue

    110 m · 14 sec · West Park Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto South York Street

    1 km · 1 min · South York Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto East Saint Charles Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · East Saint Charles Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 290 East

    1369 ft · 33 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    1846 ft · 29 sec

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

    1648 ft · 40 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1 mi · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    42 m · 2 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway

  14. 14

    Continue on Mile-Long Bridge

    1.5 km · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge

  15. 15

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    8.5 mi · 11 min · Tri-State Tollway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street

    1162 ft · 28 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue

    2529 ft · 1 min

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Cicero Avenue

    4.9 mi · 8 min · Cicero Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto 167th Street

    855 ft · 26 sec · 167th Street

  20. 20

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80

    3048 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    188.4 mi · 3 hr 24 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    65.7 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    37.4 mi · 40 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

    1758 ft · 43 sec

  25. 25

    Keep slight left to continue on IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

    2421 ft · 59 sec

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on IL 13: Harrisburg, Marion, Carbondale

    913 ft · 22 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight left onto West Deyoung Street

    3.4 mi · 4 min · West Deyoung Street

  28. 28

    Continue on IL-13

    11.1 mi · 17 min · IL-13

  29. 29

    Turn left onto South University Avenue

    2416 ft · 35 sec · South University Avenue

  30. 30

    Continue on South Illinois Avenue

    7.8 mi · 9 min · South Illinois Avenue

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Makanda Road

    1.6 km · 4 min · Makanda Road

  32. 32

    Keep slight right to continue on Makanda Road

    1.3 km · 3 min · Makanda Road

  33. 33

    Keep slight right to continue on Baptist Hill Road

    23 m · 3 sec · Baptist Hill Road

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Baptist Hill Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Elmhurst and Makanda.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
34 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
255 mi · 74%
Ken Gray Expressway
37.4 mi · 11%
Tri-State Tollway
18.2 mi · 5%
IL-13
11.1 mi · 3%
South Illinois Avenue
7.78 mi · 2%
Cicero Avenue
4.89 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Merge slight left

188 mi · 03h 24m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 36m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.6 mi
303.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arcola
03h 18m from Elmhurst
Leave By
10:48 PM CST
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Elmhurst and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers near Makanda.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elmhurst to Makanda?

The road trip is about 345 miles (555.2 km) and usually takes 06h 36m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Arcola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 172.6 miles from Elmhurst and 172.4 miles from Makanda.

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

The direct path is about 303.4 miles (488.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.6 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $57.27 one way or $114.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Elmhurst and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers near Makanda.

Stop Ideas Near Arcola

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Arcola, 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 Arcola.

RAIL

Mattoon station

23 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

48 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Effingham

66 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

71 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elmhurst and Makanda. Straight-line distance: 303.42 mi (488.3 km).

Elmhurst

#1 Elmhurst

A city in DuPage County, Illinois.

Population46,532
Coordinates41.8994700, -87.9403400
Altitude209
CountryUnited States
Makanda

#2 Makanda

City in Illinois, United States of America

Population529
Coordinates37.6175500, -89.2089700
Altitude136
CountryUnited States
Start: Elmhurst (-87.94034, 41.89947)
End: Makanda (-89.20897, 37.61755)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 555 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.17 gal
46.08 L · about $57.27
Round trip
$114.54
24.34 gal · 92.16 L
Estimated CO2
108.2 kg one way
Round trip: 216.3 kg / 477 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.71 $57.27 $114.54
Mid-grade $5.32 $64.68 $129.37
Premium $5.87 $71.47 $142.95
Diesel $6.62 $80.61 $161.23

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 · Nov 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Elmhurst and Makanda. The current time is 21:25:33.

Distance to Other Cities

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