How far is Park Forest, IL from Crystal Lake, IL?

The driving distance from Park Forest, IL to Crystal Lake, IL is about 81.8 miles (131.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 61.5 miles (98.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 21m 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
81.83 mi
01h 40m
Flight
61.43 mi
98.86 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Park Forest.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
61.43 mi
Kilometers
98.86 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
81.83 mi
Kilometers
131.69 km
Drive Time
01h 40m

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 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Crystal Lake
Thu, Oct 15, 7:09 PM CDT
Return by in Park Forest
Thu, Oct 15, 8:49 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Park Forest
2026-10-15T17:28
Arrive Crystal Lake
Thu, Oct 15, 7:09 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:41 AM to 11:41 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:08 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Park Forest
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
Elmhurst
IL

A city in DuPage County, Illinois.

From Park Forest
36 mi
00h 50m
To Crystal Lake
45.9 mi
00h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SSE
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 Park Forest and Crystal Lake.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Park Forest and Crystal Lake.

  1. 1

    Start on Westwood Drive

    19 m · 9 sec · Westwood Drive

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Western Avenue

    2.5 mi · 5 min · Western Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Vollmer Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Vollmer Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Kedzie Avenue

    6.8 mi · 13 min · Kedzie Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto West 147th Street

    1979 ft · 39 sec · West 147th Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto I 294 North: Wisconsin

    3218 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    20.8 mi · 26 min · Tri-State Tollway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago

    98 m · 8 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.3 km · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 290 West: Rockford

    1.4 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Saint Charles Road West

    1751 ft · 43 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    13.4 mi · 17 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Kirchoff Road

    1873 ft · 50 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Kirchoff Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · Kirchoff Road

  17. 17

    Turn right onto South Plum Grove Road

    1.9 mi · 4 min · South Plum Grove Road

  18. 18

    Turn left onto West Colfax Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · West Colfax Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Sterling Avenue

    136 m · 20 sec · Sterling Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn left onto West Northwest Highway

    15.2 mi · 24 min · West Northwest Highway

  21. 21

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto East Crystal Lake Avenue

    8 m · 1 sec · East Crystal Lake Avenue

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Crystal Lake Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Park Forest 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
23 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
22.8 mi · 28%
Saint Charles Road West
16 mi · 19%
West Northwest Highway
15.2 mi · 19%
Kedzie Avenue
6.8 mi · 8%
Western Avenue
2.51 mi · 3%
South Plum Grove Road
1.94 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

20.8 mi · 00h 26m

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 40m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.3 mi
61.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elmhurst
00h 50m from Park Forest
Leave By
3:08 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Park Forest 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 Park Forest to Crystal Lake?

The road trip is about 81.8 miles (131.7 km) and usually takes 01h 40m 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?

Elmhurst is a useful midpoint, sitting about 36 miles from Park Forest and 45.9 miles from Crystal Lake.

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

The direct path is about 61.5 miles (98.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:08 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.48 one way or $26.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 25.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Park Forest and Rain Showers near Crystal Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Elmhurst

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

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

RAIL

La Grange Road

11 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

16 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

Glenview station

22 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Naperville

22 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Park Forest and Crystal Lake. Straight-line distance: 61.43 mi (98.86 km).

Park Forest

#1 Park Forest

Village in United States of America

Population20,937
Coordinates41.4914200, -87.6744900
Altitude217
CountryUnited States
Crystal Lake

#2 Crystal Lake

City located in McHenry County, Illinois, USA

Population39,642
Coordinates42.2411300, -88.3162000
Altitude279
CountryUnited States
Start: Westwood Drive (-87.67449, 41.491575)
End: East Crystal Lake Avenue (-88.316198, 42.241185)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 132 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.89 gal
10.93 L · about $13.48
Round trip
$26.96
5.78 gal · 21.86 L
Estimated CO2
25.7 kg one way
Round trip: 51.4 kg / 113 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $13.48 $26.96
Mid-grade $5.29 $15.29 $30.59
Premium $5.84 $16.87 $33.74
Diesel $6.57 $18.99 $37.98

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 Park Forest and Crystal Lake. The current time is 17:28:27.

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.