How far is Park Ridge, IL from Zion, IL?

The driving distance from Park Ridge, IL to Zion, IL is about 36.9 miles (59.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30.1 miles (48.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 48m 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
36.9 mi
00h 54m
Flight
30.06 mi
48.37 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Park Ridge.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
30.06 mi
Kilometers
48.37 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
36.9 mi
Kilometers
59.38 km
Drive Time
00h 54m

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 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Zion
Thu, Oct 15, 3:22 PM CDT
Return by in Park Ridge
Thu, Oct 15, 4:17 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Park Ridge
2026-10-15T14:28
Arrive Zion
Thu, Oct 15, 3:22 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:54 AM to 10:54 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:42 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Park Ridge
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
Mettawa
IL

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

From Park Ridge
18.5 mi
00h 27m
To Zion
18.5 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Today

Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
61°F
Today

Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Park Ridge and Zion.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Park Ridge and Zion.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    7 m · 4 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Greenwood Avenue

    3 mi · 6 min · North Greenwood Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Golf Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · West Golf Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

    2307 ft · 56 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    18.4 mi · 22 min · Tri-State Tollway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 137: Buckley Road

    1522 ft · 39 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto Buckley Road

    2.9 mi · 5 min · Buckley Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Bobby E. Thompson Expressway

    1.4 km · 60 sec · Bobby E. Thompson Expressway

  9. 9

    Continue on Sheridan Road

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Sheridan Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Melvin Amstutz Highway

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Melvin Amstutz Highway

  11. 11

    Turn left onto West Greenwood Avenue

    1713 ft · 32 sec · West Greenwood Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn right onto North Sheridan Road

    4.3 mi · 9 min · North Sheridan Road

  13. 13

    Turn left onto 27th Street

    1975 ft · 54 sec · 27th Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 27th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Park Ridge and Zion.

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
14 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
18.4 mi · 50%
North Sheridan Road
4.32 mi · 12%
North Greenwood Avenue
2.99 mi · 8%
Buckley Road
2.9 mi · 8%
Sheridan Road
2.41 mi · 7%
Melvin Amstutz Highway
2.29 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

18.4 mi · 00h 22m

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 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.8 mi
30.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mettawa
00h 27m from Park Ridge
Leave By
4:42 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers leaving Park Ridge and Rain Showers near Zion.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Park Ridge to Zion?

The road trip is about 36.9 miles (59.4 km) and usually takes 00h 54m 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?

Mettawa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.5 miles from Park Ridge and 18.5 miles from Zion.

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

The direct path is about 30.1 miles (48.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.8 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 4:42 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.06 one way or $12.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Park Ridge and Rain Showers near Zion.

Stop Ideas Near Mettawa

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

20 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

46 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

47 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

50 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Park Ridge and Zion. Straight-line distance: 30.06 mi (48.37 km).

Park Ridge

#1 Park Ridge

City in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Population36,514
Coordinates42.0111400, -87.8406200
Altitude196
CountryUnited States
Zion

#2 Zion

City in Lake County, Illinois, US

Population23,321
Coordinates42.4461300, -87.8328500
Altitude198
CountryUnited States
Start: Park Ridge (-87.84062, 42.01114)
End: Zion (-87.83285, 42.44613)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 59 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.3 gal
4.93 L · about $6.06
Round trip
$12.13
2.6 gal · 9.86 L
Estimated CO2
11.6 kg one way
Round trip: 23.1 kg / 51 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $6.06 $12.13
Mid-grade $5.29 $6.88 $13.76
Premium $5.84 $7.59 $15.18
Diesel $6.57 $8.54 $17.08

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 Ridge and Zion. The current time is 14:28:23.

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.