How far is Vernon Hills, IL from Chicago, IL?

The driving distance from Vernon Hills, IL to Chicago, IL is about 37.5 miles (60.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30.6 miles (49.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 46m 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
37.56 mi
00h 53m
Flight
30.61 mi
49.27 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Vernon Hills.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
30.61 mi
Kilometers
49.27 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.56 mi
Kilometers
60.45 km
Drive Time
00h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chicago
Sun, Apr 19, 6:49 AM CDT
Return by in Vernon Hills
Sun, Apr 19, 7:43 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Vernon Hills
2026-04-19T05:56
Arrive Chicago
Sun, Apr 19, 6:49 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:53 AM to 10:53 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:44 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Vernon Hills
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
Glenview
IL

Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

From Vernon Hills
18.6 mi
00h 26m
To Chicago
19 mi
00h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
50°F
Sunday

Areas Of Frost then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W
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 Vernon Hills and Chicago.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Vernon Hills and Chicago.

  1. 1

    Start on Oakwood Road

    11 m · 7 sec · Oakwood Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Westmoreland Drive

    670 ft · 32 sec · Westmoreland Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Cherry Valley Road

    584 ft · 27 sec · Cherry Valley Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Camden Place

    1058 ft · 54 sec · Camden Place

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Evergreen Drive

    1279 ft · 1 min · Evergreen Drive

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn right

    2.4 mi · 4 min

  7. 7

    Continue on Olde Half Day Road

    2338 ft · 51 sec · Olde Half Day Road

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn left onto West Half Day Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · West Half Day Road

  9. 9

    Take the ramp right toward I 94 East Toll: Indiana

    2176 ft · 53 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Edens Spur

    4.8 mi · 5 min · Edens Spur

  12. 12

    Continue on Edens Expressway

    13.7 mi · 17 min · Edens Expressway

  13. 13

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    8.1 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  14. 14

    Continue on Dan Ryan Expressway

    1.5 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 Vernon Hills 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
22 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
58.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Edens Expressway
13.7 mi · 36%
Kennedy Expressway
8.12 mi · 22%
Edens Spur
4.79 mi · 13%
Tri-State Tollway
2.93 mi · 8%
West Half Day Road
1.79 mi · 5%
Dan Ryan Expressway
0.94 mi · 3%
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
00h 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.9 mi
30.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Glenview
00h 26m from Vernon Hills
Leave By
4:44 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Areas Of Frost then Chance Rain Showers leaving Vernon Hills 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 Vernon Hills to Chicago?

The road trip is about 37.5 miles (60.4 km) and usually takes 00h 53m 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?

Glenview is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.6 miles from Vernon Hills and 19 miles from Chicago.

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

The direct path is about 30.6 miles (49.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.9 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 4:44 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.02 one way or $10.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Areas Of Frost then Chance Rain Showers around Vernon Hills and Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny near Chicago.

Stop Ideas Near Glenview

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

2 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

25 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

29 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

31 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Vernon Hills and Chicago. Straight-line distance: 30.61 mi (49.27 km).

Vernon Hills

#1 Vernon Hills

City in United States of America

Population26,425
Coordinates42.2194700, -87.9795200
Altitude224
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: Oakwood Road (-87.979511, 42.219456)
End: (-87.650099, 41.850032)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 60 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.33 gal
5.02 L · about $5.02
Round trip
$10.03
2.66 gal · 10.04 L
Estimated CO2
11.8 kg one way
Round trip: 23.6 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.02 $10.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.66 $11.31
Premium $4.65 $6.19 $12.38
Diesel $5.30 $7.05 $14.11

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 Vernon Hills and Chicago. The current time is 05:56:42.

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.