How far is Wheaton, IL from Fox Lake, IL?

The driving distance from Wheaton, IL to Fox Lake, IL is about 45.5 miles (73.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36.8 miles (59.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 10m 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
45.57 mi
01h 05m
Flight
36.87 mi
59.33 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wheaton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
36.87 mi
Kilometers
59.33 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
45.57 mi
Kilometers
73.33 km
Drive Time
01h 05m

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 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fox Lake
Thu, Oct 15, 5:27 PM CDT
Return by in Wheaton
Thu, Oct 15, 6:32 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wheaton
2026-10-15T16:22
Arrive Fox Lake
Thu, Oct 15, 5:27 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:05 AM to 11:05 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:20 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wheaton
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
Palatine
IL

Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

From Wheaton
22.8 mi
00h 32m
To Fox Lake
22.8 mi
00h 32m

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
60°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 12:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Wheaton and Fox Lake.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wheaton and Fox Lake.

  1. 1

    Start on West Wesley Street

    102 m · 12 sec · West Wesley Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Hale Street

    124 m · 20 sec · North Hale Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West Seminary Avenue

    1919 ft · 1 min · West Seminary Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on College Avenue

    1.3 mi · 3 min · College Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Pennsylvania Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · Pennsylvania Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    1.8 mi · 4 min · North Main Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto North Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · North Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn left onto I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs

    2199 ft · 54 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway

    4 mi · 5 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    5.6 mi · 7 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    8.9 mi · 12 min

  12. 12

    Continue on Lake Cook Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Lake Cook Road

  13. 13

    Continue on North Rand Road

    14.3 mi · 19 min · North Rand Road

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    1.9 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    4.1 mi · 5 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    18 m · 7 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left

    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 Wheaton and Fox 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
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
2 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
39.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Rand Road
20.3 mi · 45%
Veterans Memorial Tollway
18.5 mi · 41%
North Main Street
1.8 mi · 4%
North Avenue
1.34 mi · 3%
College Avenue
1.27 mi · 3%
Pennsylvania Avenue
0.74 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

North Rand Road

Continue on North Rand Road

14.3 mi · 00h 19m

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 05m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.7 mi
36.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Palatine
00h 32m from Wheaton
Leave By
4:20 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers leaving Wheaton and Showers And Thunderstorms near Fox Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Wheaton to Fox Lake?

The road trip is about 45.5 miles (73.3 km) and usually takes 01h 05m 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?

Palatine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 22.8 miles from Wheaton and 22.8 miles from Fox Lake.

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

The direct path is about 36.8 miles (59.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.7 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 4:20 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.51 one way or $15.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Wheaton and Showers And Thunderstorms near Fox Lake.

Stop Ideas Near Palatine

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

19 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

35 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Naperville

38 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Summit

40 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wheaton and Fox Lake. Straight-line distance: 36.87 mi (59.33 km).

Wheaton

#1 Wheaton

The most populous city in DuPage County, Illinois.

Population52,451
Coordinates41.8661400, -88.1070100
Altitude231
CountryUnited States
Fox Lake

#2 Fox Lake

City in Illinois, United States of America

Population10,411
Coordinates42.3966900, -88.1837000
Altitude228
CountryUnited States
Start: Wheaton (-88.10701, 41.86614)
End: Fox Lake (-88.1837, 42.39669)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 73 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.61 gal
6.09 L · about $7.51
Round trip
$15.02
3.22 gal · 12.18 L
Estimated CO2
14.3 kg one way
Round trip: 28.6 kg / 63 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $7.51 $15.02
Mid-grade $5.29 $8.52 $17.04
Premium $5.84 $9.40 $18.80
Diesel $6.57 $10.58 $21.16

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Wheaton and Fox Lake. The current time is 16:22:27.

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.