How far is Glen Ellyn, IL from Crystal Lake, IL?

The driving distance from Glen Ellyn, IL to Crystal Lake, IL is about 36 miles (58 km), with a travel time of about 00h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 28.2 miles (45.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 50m 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
36.01 mi
00h 55m
Flight
28.19 mi
45.36 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Glen Ellyn.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
28.19 mi
Kilometers
45.36 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
36.01 mi
Kilometers
57.96 km
Drive Time
00h 55m

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 00h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Crystal Lake
Thu, Oct 15, 2:23 PM CDT
Return by in Glen Ellyn
Thu, Oct 15, 3:18 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Glen Ellyn
2026-10-15T13:27
Arrive Crystal Lake
Thu, Oct 15, 2:23 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:55 AM to 10:55 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Glen Ellyn
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
Palatine
IL

Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

From Glen Ellyn
18.1 mi
00h 27m
To Crystal Lake
17.8 mi
00h 27m

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
60°F
Today

Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Glen Ellyn and Crystal Lake.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Glen Ellyn and Crystal Lake.

  1. 1

    Start on Pennsylvania Avenue

    22 m · 8 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    1.8 mi · 4 min · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · North Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs

    2199 ft · 54 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway

    4 mi · 5 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    5.6 mi · 7 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Kirchoff Road

    1873 ft · 50 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Kirchoff Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · Kirchoff Road

  10. 10

    Turn right onto South Plum Grove Road

    1.9 mi · 4 min · South Plum Grove Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto West Colfax Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · West Colfax Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Sterling Avenue

    136 m · 20 sec · Sterling Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto West Northwest Highway

    15.2 mi · 24 min · West Northwest Highway

  14. 14

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto East Crystal Lake Avenue

    8 m · 1 sec · East Crystal Lake Avenue

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Crystal Lake Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Glen Ellyn and Crystal Lake.

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
16 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
44.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Northwest Highway
15.2 mi · 42%
Veterans Memorial Tollway
11.8 mi · 33%
South Plum Grove Road
1.94 mi · 5%
North Main Street
1.8 mi · 5%
West Colfax Street
1.59 mi · 4%
North Avenue
1.34 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

West Northwest Highway

Turn left onto West Northwest Highway

15.2 mi · 00h 24m

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
00h 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.8 mi
28.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Palatine
00h 27m from Glen Ellyn
Leave By
4:40 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Glen Ellyn and Rain Showers near Crystal Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Glen Ellyn to Crystal Lake?

The road trip is about 36 miles (58 km) and usually takes 00h 55m 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?

Palatine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.1 miles from Glen Ellyn and 17.8 miles from Crystal Lake.

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

The direct path is about 28.2 miles (45.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.8 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 4:40 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.92 one way or $11.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Glen Ellyn and Rain Showers near Crystal Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Palatine

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

19 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

35 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Naperville

38 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Summit

40 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Glen Ellyn and Crystal Lake. Straight-line distance: 28.19 mi (45.36 km).

Glen Ellyn

#1 Glen Ellyn

Town in DuPage County, Illinois, USA

Population27,402
Coordinates41.8775300, -88.0670100
Altitude226
CountryUnited States
Crystal Lake

#2 Crystal Lake

City located in McHenry County, Illinois, USA

Population39,642
Coordinates42.2411300, -88.3162000
Altitude279
CountryUnited States
Start: Pennsylvania Avenue (-88.066991, 41.877467)
End: East Crystal Lake Avenue (-88.316198, 42.241185)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 58 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.27 gal
4.81 L · about $5.92
Round trip
$11.85
2.54 gal · 9.62 L
Estimated CO2
11.3 kg one way
Round trip: 22.6 kg / 50 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $5.92 $11.85
Mid-grade $5.29 $6.72 $13.44
Premium $5.84 $7.41 $14.83
Diesel $6.57 $8.35 $16.69

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 Glen Ellyn and Crystal Lake. The current time is 13:27:41.

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.