How far is West Frankfort, IL from Elmhurst, IL?

The driving distance from West Frankfort, IL to Elmhurst, IL is about 312.9 miles (503.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 281.4 miles (452.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
312.9 mi
04h 55m
Flight
281.43 mi
452.91 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from West Frankfort.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
281.43 mi
Kilometers
452.91 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
312.9 mi
Kilometers
503.56 km
Drive Time
04h 55m

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 04h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elmhurst
Thu, Oct 15, 9:20 PM CDT
Return by in West Frankfort
Fri, Oct 16, 2:16 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave West Frankfort
2026-10-15T16:24
Arrive Elmhurst
Thu, Oct 15, 9:20 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:56 AM to 12:56 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in West Frankfort
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Pesotum
IL

Township in Champaign County, Illinois

From West Frankfort
156.3 mi
02h 27m
To Elmhurst
156.6 mi
02h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Today

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 10:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph SSW
Destination
64°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between West Frankfort and Elmhurst.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Frankfort and Elmhurst.

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    6 m · 1 sec

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout

    1714 ft · 42 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

    31 mi · 34 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    67.5 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    185.5 mi · 3 hr 21 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin

    1718 ft · 33 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    20.8 mi · 26 min · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.4 km · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 38 West: Roosevelt Road

    1521 ft · 37 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Roosevelt Road

    2501 ft · 38 sec · Roosevelt Road

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward North York Road

    1420 ft · 44 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto South York Road

    2460 ft · 55 sec · South York Road

  15. 15

    Continue on South York Street

    2.1 mi · 4 min · South York Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto West Park Avenue

    12 m · 3 sec · West Park Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn slight right

    20 m · 5 sec

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between West Frankfort and Elmhurst.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
18 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
185 mi · 59%
Ken Gray Expressway
98.4 mi · 31%
Tri-State Tollway
21.7 mi · 7%
South York Street
2.1 mi · 1%
I 294 Toll North
1.78 mi · 1%
West Main Street
1.06 mi
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

185 mi · 03h 21m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 55m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.5 mi
281.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pesotum
02h 27m from West Frankfort
Leave By
7:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving West Frankfort and Showers And Thunderstorms near Elmhurst.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from West Frankfort to Elmhurst?

The road trip is about 312.9 miles (503.6 km) and usually takes 04h 55m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Pesotum is a useful midpoint, sitting about 156.3 miles from West Frankfort and 156.6 miles from Elmhurst.

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

The direct path is about 281.4 miles (452.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.5 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $51.50 one way or $103.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 98.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around West Frankfort and Showers And Thunderstorms near Elmhurst.

Stop Ideas Near Pesotum

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

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

RAIL

Illinois Terminal

23 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

45 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Mattoon station

49 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

59 mi away
379 Lynch Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between West Frankfort and Elmhurst. Straight-line distance: 281.43 mi (452.91 km).

West Frankfort

#1 West Frankfort

City in Illinois, USA

Population7,733
Coordinates37.8978300, -88.9314600
Altitude122
CountryUnited States
Elmhurst

#2 Elmhurst

A city in DuPage County, Illinois.

Population46,532
Coordinates41.8994700, -87.9403400
Altitude209
CountryUnited States
Start: West Main Street (-88.93146, 37.897945)
End: (-87.940349, 41.899457)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 504 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.04 gal
41.8 L · about $51.50
Round trip
$103.00
22.08 gal · 83.6 L
Estimated CO2
98.1 kg one way
Round trip: 196.2 kg / 433 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $51.50 $103.00
Mid-grade $5.29 $58.42 $116.85
Premium $5.84 $64.44 $128.88
Diesel $6.57 $72.54 $145.09

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 West Frankfort and Elmhurst. The current time is 16:24:49.

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.