How far is Elmhurst, IL from Zion, IL?

The driving distance from Elmhurst, IL to Zion, IL is about 46.2 miles (74.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 38.2 miles (61.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 12m 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
46.24 mi
01h 06m
Flight
38.17 mi
61.43 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elmhurst.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
38.17 mi
Kilometers
61.43 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
46.24 mi
Kilometers
74.41 km
Drive Time
01h 06m

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 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Zion
Thu, Oct 15, 3:34 PM CDT
Return by in Elmhurst
Thu, Oct 15, 4:40 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elmhurst
2026-10-15T14:28
Arrive Zion
Thu, Oct 15, 3:34 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:06 AM to 11:06 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:18 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Elmhurst
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Bannockburn
IL

Village in West Deerfield and Vernon townships of Lake County, Illinois, United States

From Elmhurst
23.1 mi
00h 33m
To Zion
23.1 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
61°F
Today

Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 · 18 sec · West Park Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North York Street

    2517 ft · 1 min · North York Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto East North Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · East North Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn slight right

    958 ft · 35 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

    1754 ft · 43 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    30.5 mi · 38 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 137: Buckley Road

    1522 ft · 39 sec

  10. 10

    Turn straight onto Buckley Road

    2.9 mi · 5 min · Buckley Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Bobby E. Thompson Expressway

    1.4 km · 60 sec · Bobby E. Thompson Expressway

  12. 12

    Continue on Sheridan Road

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Sheridan Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Melvin Amstutz Highway

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Melvin Amstutz Highway

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Greenwood Avenue

    1713 ft · 32 sec · West Greenwood Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto North Sheridan Road

    4.3 mi · 9 min · North Sheridan Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto 27th Street

    1975 ft · 54 sec · 27th Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 27th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
17 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
36.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
30.5 mi · 66%
North Sheridan Road
4.32 mi · 9%
Buckley Road
2.9 mi · 6%
Sheridan Road
2.41 mi · 5%
Melvin Amstutz Highway
2.29 mi · 5%
East North Avenue
0.89 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

30.5 mi · 00h 38m

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 06m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8 mi
38.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bannockburn
00h 33m from Elmhurst
Leave By
4:18 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Elmhurst and Rain Showers near Zion.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 46.2 miles (74.4 km) and usually takes 01h 06m 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?

Bannockburn is a useful midpoint, sitting about 23.1 miles from Elmhurst and 23.1 miles from Zion.

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

The direct path is about 38.2 miles (61.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 8 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 4:18 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.60 one way or $15.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Elmhurst and Rain Showers near Zion.

Stop Ideas Near Bannockburn

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

14 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

40 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

42 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

45 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elmhurst and Zion. Straight-line distance: 38.17 mi (61.43 km).

Elmhurst

#1 Elmhurst

A city in DuPage County, Illinois.

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

#2 Zion

City in Lake County, Illinois, US

Population23,321
Coordinates42.4461300, -87.8328500
Altitude198
CountryUnited States
Start: Elmhurst (-87.94034, 41.89947)
End: Zion (-87.83285, 42.44613)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 74 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.63 gal
6.18 L · about $7.60
Round trip
$15.21
3.26 gal · 12.36 L
Estimated CO2
14.5 kg one way
Round trip: 29 kg / 64 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $7.60 $15.21
Mid-grade $5.29 $8.63 $17.25
Premium $5.84 $9.51 $19.03
Diesel $6.57 $10.71 $21.42

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Elmhurst and Zion. The current time is 14:28:19.

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.