How far is Round Lake Heights, IL from Chicago, IL?

The driving distance from Round Lake Heights, IL to Chicago, IL is about 53.7 miles (86.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 43.4 miles (69.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 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
53.76 mi
01h 10m
Flight
43.39 mi
69.83 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Round Lake Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
43.39 mi
Kilometers
69.83 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
53.76 mi
Kilometers
86.52 km
Drive Time
01h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chicago
Sun, Apr 19, 3:26 PM CDT
Return by in Round Lake Heights
Sun, Apr 19, 4:37 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Round Lake Heights
2026-04-19T14:15
Arrive Chicago
Sun, Apr 19, 3:26 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:11 AM to 11:11 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:08 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Round Lake Heights
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
Highland Park
IL

City in Lake County, Illinois, United States

From Round Lake Heights
25.7 mi
00h 35m
To Chicago
28 mi
00h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
49°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WNW
Destination
52°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Round Lake Heights and Chicago.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Round Lake Heights and Chicago.

  1. 1

    Start on Tomahawk Trail

    15 m · 4 sec · Tomahawk Trail

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Brentwood Drive

    110 m · 22 sec · Brentwood Drive

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Rollins Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · West Rollins Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Barron Boulevard

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Barron Boulevard

  5. 5

    Continue on Ivanhoe Road

    1418 ft · 24 sec · Ivanhoe Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Antioch Road

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Antioch Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Old Peterson Road

    864 ft · 15 sec · Old Peterson Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Peterson Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Peterson Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Buckley Road

    4.4 mi · 7 min · Buckley Road

  10. 10

    Turn right onto North Skokie Highway

    5.6 mi · 7 min · North Skokie Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Skokie Valley Road

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Skokie Valley Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Skokie Highway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Skokie Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Edens Expressway

    13.7 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

  14. 14

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    8.1 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  15. 15

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    1.5 km · 1 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward 18th Street

    1398 ft · 34 sec

  17. 17

    Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue

    963 ft · 30 sec · South Union Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto South Canalport Avenue

    154 m · 13 sec · South Canalport Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South Halsted Street

    737 ft · 19 sec · South Halsted Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto West Cermak Road

    976 ft · 25 sec · West Cermak Road

  21. 21

    Turn left

    46 m · 11 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right

    794 ft · 58 sec

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Round Lake Heights and Chicago.

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
23 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
42.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Edens Expressway
13.7 mi · 25%
Kennedy Expressway
8.12 mi · 15%
North Skokie Highway
5.58 mi · 10%
Buckley Road
4.41 mi · 8%
Skokie Highway
3.76 mi · 7%
Barron Boulevard
3.69 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Edens Expressway

Continue on Edens Expressway

13.7 mi · 00h 17m

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 10m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.3 mi
43.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Highland Park
00h 35m from Round Lake Heights
Leave By
4:08 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Round Lake Heights and Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny near Chicago.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Round Lake Heights to Chicago?

The road trip is about 53.7 miles (86.5 km) and usually takes 01h 10m 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?

Highland Park is a useful midpoint, sitting about 25.7 miles from Round Lake Heights and 28 miles from Chicago.

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

The direct path is about 43.4 miles (69.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.3 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 4:08 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.16 one way or $14.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Round Lake Heights and Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny near Chicago.

Stop Ideas Near Highland Park

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

12 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

36 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

41 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

43 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Round Lake Heights and Chicago. Straight-line distance: 43.39 mi (69.83 km).

Round Lake Heights

#1 Round Lake Heights

City in Illinois, United States of America

Population2,630
Coordinates42.3800200, -88.1042500
Altitude239
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: Tomahawk Trail (-88.104245, 42.380107)
End: (-87.650099, 41.850032)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 87 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.9 gal
7.18 L · about $7.16
Round trip
$14.33
3.8 gal · 14.36 L
Estimated CO2
16.9 kg one way
Round trip: 33.8 kg / 75 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.16 $14.33
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.08 $16.16
Premium $4.65 $8.84 $17.69
Diesel $5.30 $10.08 $20.16

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 Round Lake Heights and Chicago. The current time is 14:15:52.

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.