How far is Fairbury, IL from Elmhurst, IL?

The driving distance from Fairbury, IL to Elmhurst, IL is about 97.6 miles (157 km), with a travel time of about 01h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 85 miles (136.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 40m 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
97.53 mi
01h 50m
Flight
85 mi
136.8 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fairbury.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
85 mi
Kilometers
136.8 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
97.53 mi
Kilometers
156.96 km
Drive Time
01h 50m

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 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elmhurst
Thu, Oct 15, 9:16 PM CDT
Return by in Fairbury
Thu, Oct 15, 11:07 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fairbury
2026-10-15T19:26
Arrive Elmhurst
Thu, Oct 15, 9:16 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:50 AM to 11:50 AM CDT

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

Leave by
2:50 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fairbury
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
Diamond
IL

Village in Illinois, USA

From Fairbury
52.8 mi
00h 55m
To Elmhurst
44.7 mi
00h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SSE
Destination
64°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North 2nd Street

    1280 ft · 1 min · North 2nd Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Oak Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · West Oak Street

  3. 3

    Continue on East 800 North Road

    2.4 mi · 3 min · East 800 North Road

  4. 4

    Continue on East 3100 North Road

    2 mi · 3 min · East 3100 North Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto North 3360 East Road

    1 mi · 2 min · North 3360 East Road

  6. 6

    Continue on North 1600 East Road

    7.3 mi · 10 min · North 1600 East Road

  7. 7

    Continue on South Manlove Street

    1352 ft · 30 sec · South Manlove Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto East Torrance Avenue

    1644 ft · 35 sec · East Torrance Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn right onto South Mill Street

    2641 ft · 58 sec · South Mill Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto West Reynolds Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · West Reynolds Street

  11. 11

    Turn right

    754 ft · 14 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    1944 ft · 39 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on Old Route 66

    2100 ft · 46 sec · Old Route 66

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Custer Avenue

    682 ft · 17 sec · West Custer Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on North 1500 East Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · North 1500 East Road

  16. 16

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 55 North: Joliet

    2198 ft · 54 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Barack Obama Presidential Expressway

    73.4 mi · 1 hr 23 min · Barack Obama Presidential Expressway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 83: Kingery Road

    1051 ft · 26 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on IL 83 North: Kingery Road

    1156 ft · 28 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on IL 83 North: Kingery Road North

    1529 ft · 43 sec

  21. 21

    Continue on Kingery Highway

    10.4 mi · 15 min · Kingery Highway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right

    103 m · 9 sec

  23. 23

    Turn slight right onto West Saint Charles Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Saint Charles Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto South York Street

    1 km · 1 min · South York Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto West Park Avenue

    12 m · 3 sec · West Park Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn slight right

    20 m · 5 sec

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
27 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
27.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Barack Obama Presidential Expressway
73.4 mi · 75%
Kingery Highway
10.4 mi · 11%
North 1600 East Road
7.29 mi · 7%
East 800 North Road
2.39 mi · 2%
East 3100 North Road
2.03 mi · 2%
North 1500 East Road
1.91 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Barack Obama Presidential Expressway

Merge slight left onto Barack Obama Presidential Expressway

73.4 mi · 01h 23m

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 50m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.6 mi
85 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Diamond
00h 55m from Fairbury
Leave By
2:50 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Fairbury and Showers And Thunderstorms near Elmhurst.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 97.6 miles (157 km) and usually takes 01h 50m 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?

Diamond is a useful midpoint, sitting about 52.8 miles from Fairbury and 44.7 miles from Elmhurst.

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

The direct path is about 85 miles (136.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:50 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.05 one way or $32.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Diamond

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

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

RAIL

Dwight station

26 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

30 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

Kankakee

37 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Plano

48 mi away
101 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fairbury and Elmhurst. Straight-line distance: 85 mi (136.8 km).

Fairbury

#1 Fairbury

City in Livingston County, Illinois, United States

Population3,596
Coordinates40.7472600, -88.5147800
Altitude209
CountryUnited States
Elmhurst

#2 Elmhurst

A city in DuPage County, Illinois.

Population46,532
Coordinates41.8994700, -87.9403400
Altitude209
CountryUnited States
Start: North 2nd Street (-88.514836, 40.747259)
End: (-87.940349, 41.899457)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 157 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.44 gal
13.03 L · about $16.05
Round trip
$32.10
6.88 gal · 26.06 L
Estimated CO2
30.6 kg one way
Round trip: 61.1 kg / 135 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $16.05 $32.10
Mid-grade $5.29 $18.20 $36.41
Premium $5.84 $20.08 $40.16
Diesel $6.57 $22.60 $45.21

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 Fairbury and Elmhurst. The current time is 19:26:16.

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.