How far is Mendota, IL from Chicago, IL?

The driving distance from Mendota, IL to Chicago, IL is about 107.7 miles (173.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 78.5 miles (126.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 44m 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
107.73 mi
01h 52m
Flight
78.55 mi
126.41 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Mendota.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
78.55 mi
Kilometers
126.41 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
107.73 mi
Kilometers
173.38 km
Drive Time
01h 52m

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 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chicago
Thu, Apr 23, 8:19 AM CDT
Return by in Mendota
Thu, Apr 23, 10:11 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mendota
2026-04-23T06:27
Arrive Chicago
Thu, Apr 23, 8:19 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:52 AM to 11:52 AM CDT

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

Leave by
2:46 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Mendota
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
Kaneville
IL

Township in Kane County, Illinois

From Mendota
53 mi
00h 56m
To Chicago
54.7 mi
00h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Mendota and Chicago.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mendota and Chicago.

  1. 1

    Start on 7th Avenue

    38 m · 7 sec · 7th Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 6th Street

    123 m · 14 sec · 6th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 6th Avenue

    2939 ft · 51 sec · 6th Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on 12th Street

    1 mi · 2 min · 12th Street

  5. 5

    Continue on North 43rd Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · North 43rd Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford

    1853 ft · 45 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    24.6 mi · 26 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago

    2930 ft · 50 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    55.8 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    6 mi · 8 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  11. 11

    Merge slight right onto Eisenhower Expressway

    13.2 mi · 18 min · Eisenhower Expressway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road

    616 ft · 15 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana

    1203 ft · 29 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward 18th Street

    1398 ft · 34 sec

  16. 16

    Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue

    963 ft · 30 sec · South Union Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

    154 m · 13 sec · South Canalport Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South Halsted Street

    737 ft · 19 sec · South Halsted Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto West Cermak Road

    976 ft · 25 sec · West Cermak Road

  20. 20

    Turn left

    46 m · 11 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right

    794 ft · 58 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Mendota and Chicago.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
22 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
61.8 mi · 57%
I 39 North
24.9 mi · 23%
Eisenhower Expressway
13.2 mi · 12%
North 43rd Road
1.8 mi · 2%
12th Street
1.02 mi · 1%
Dan Ryan Expressway
0.75 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

55.8 mi · 01h 03m

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 52m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.2 mi
78.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kaneville
00h 56m from Mendota
Leave By
2:46 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Mendota and Mostly Sunny near Chicago.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Mendota to Chicago?

The road trip is about 107.7 miles (173.4 km) and usually takes 01h 52m 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?

Kaneville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 53 miles from Mendota and 54.7 miles from Chicago.

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

The direct path is about 78.5 miles (126.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.2 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 2:46 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.33 one way or $28.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 33.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Mendota and Mostly Sunny near Chicago.

Stop Ideas Near Kaneville

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

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

RAIL

Plano

19 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

Naperville

32 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

50 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

54 mi away
25 West Burlington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Mendota and Chicago. Straight-line distance: 78.55 mi (126.41 km).

Mendota

#1 Mendota

Township in LaSalle County, Illinois

Population6,904
Coordinates41.5472500, -89.1175900
Altitude226
CountryUnited States
Chicago

#2 Chicago

The third most populous city in the United States and the center of the Chicago metropolitan area.

Population2,677,643
Coordinates41.850033, -87.6500523
Altitude179
CountryUnited States
Start: 7th Avenue (-89.11762, 41.547165)
End: (-87.650099, 41.850032)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 173 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.8 gal
14.39 L · about $14.33
Round trip
$28.66
7.6 gal · 28.78 L
Estimated CO2
33.8 kg one way
Round trip: 67.5 kg / 149 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $14.33 $28.66
Mid-grade $4.25 $16.16 $32.32
Premium $4.65 $17.69 $35.37
Diesel $5.30 $20.16 $40.31

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Mendota and Chicago. The current time is 06:27:01.

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.