How far is Fairfield, IL from Elmhurst, IL?

The driving distance from Fairfield, IL to Elmhurst, IL is about 267.6 miles (430.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 244.3 miles (393.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
267.56 mi
04h 35m
Flight
244.25 mi
393.08 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fairfield.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
244.25 mi
Kilometers
393.08 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
267.56 mi
Kilometers
430.59 km
Drive Time
04h 35m

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 04h 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elmhurst
Sun, Apr 19, 4:40 AM CDT
Return by in Fairfield
Sun, Apr 19, 9:15 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fairfield
2026-04-19T00:05
Arrive Elmhurst
Sun, Apr 19, 4:40 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:35 AM to 12:35 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:50 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fairfield
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Champaign
IL

The most populous city in Champaign County, Illinois.

From Fairfield
138 mi
02h 17m
To Elmhurst
129.6 mi
02h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph WNW
Destination
52°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South 1st Street

    75 m · 12 sec · South 1st Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    2.4 mi · 4 min · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto County Road 1600E

    4 mi · 6 min · County Road 1600E

  4. 4

    Continue on Washington Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Washington Street

  5. 5

    Continue on County Road 1600E

    4.6 mi · 7 min · County Road 1600E

  6. 6

    Continue on County Road 1800N

    1.4 mi · 2 min · County Road 1800N

  7. 7

    Continue on Central Street

    2051 ft · 35 sec · Central Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Central Street

    2844 ft · 48 sec · Central Street

  9. 9

    Continue on County Road 1400E

    14.3 mi · 20 min · County Road 1400E

  10. 10

    Turn right onto County Road 925 E

    16.2 mi · 24 min · County Road 925 E

  11. 11

    Continue on United States Route 45

    14.9 mi · 22 min · United States Route 45

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Fayette Avenue

    1123 ft · 33 sec · West Fayette Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto South 3rd Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South 3rd Street

  14. 14

    Take the ramp right toward I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre Haute

    2624 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    1.3 km · 55 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    185.5 mi · 3 hr 21 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin

    1718 ft · 33 sec

  18. 18

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

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    20.8 mi · 26 min · Tri-State Tollway

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.4 km · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road

    1521 ft · 37 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto Roosevelt Road

    2501 ft · 38 sec · Roosevelt Road

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward North York Road

    1420 ft · 44 sec

  24. 24

    Turn right onto South York Road

    2460 ft · 55 sec · South York Road

  25. 25

    Continue on South York Street

    2.1 mi · 4 min · South York Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto West Park Avenue

    12 m · 3 sec · West Park Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn slight right

    20 m · 5 sec

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fairfield 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
28 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
185 mi · 69%
Tri-State Tollway
21.7 mi · 8%
County Road 925 E
16.2 mi · 6%
United States Route 45
14.9 mi · 6%
County Road 1400E
14.3 mi · 5%
County Road 1600E
8.52 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

185 mi · 03h 21m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 35m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.3 mi
244.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Champaign
02h 17m from Fairfield
Leave By
7:50 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Fairfield and Mostly Sunny near Elmhurst.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 267.6 miles (430.6 km) and usually takes 04h 35m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Champaign is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138 miles from Fairfield and 129.6 miles from Elmhurst.

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

The direct path is about 244.3 miles (393.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.3 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:50 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.60 one way or $71.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 83.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny around Fairfield and Mostly Sunny near Elmhurst.

Stop Ideas Near Champaign

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

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

RAIL

Illinois Terminal

45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

23 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

52 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Mattoon station

71 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fairfield and Elmhurst. Straight-line distance: 244.25 mi (393.08 km).

Fairfield

#1 Fairfield

City in Illinois, United States

Population4,889
Coordinates38.3789400, -88.3597700
Altitude134
CountryUnited States
Elmhurst

#2 Elmhurst

A city in DuPage County, Illinois.

Population46,532
Coordinates41.8994700, -87.9403400
Altitude209
CountryUnited States
Start: South 1st Street (-88.359891, 38.378939)
End: (-87.940349, 41.899457)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 431 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.44 gal
35.74 L · about $35.60
Round trip
$71.20
18.88 gal · 71.48 L
Estimated CO2
83.9 kg one way
Round trip: 167.8 kg / 370 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $35.60 $71.20
Mid-grade $4.25 $40.15 $80.30
Premium $4.65 $43.93 $87.87
Diesel $5.30 $50.07 $100.14

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 · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Fairfield and Elmhurst. The current time is 00:05:05.

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.