landmark
Willis Tower (Sears Tower)
Iconic 110-storey Chicago skyscraper with a glass-floored Skydeck, once the tallest building in the world.
25 km · about 30 min drive
North AmericaUnited StatesIllinois
Elmhurst
Illinois, United States · North America
About Elmhurst
Elmhurst works well as a base: 5 minutes from Hillside, 26km from Route 66 - Chicago Start.
Elmhurst is in Illinois, United States, with about 46,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Hillside, about 4 km away.
Elmhurst is a Metra commuter railroad station in downtown Elmhurst, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. It is served by the Union Pacific West Line, and lies 15.7 miles (25.3 km) from the eastern terminus. Trains go east to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago and as far west as Elburn, Illinois. Travel time toRead more
Ogilvie ranges from 39 minutes on local trains to 26 minutes on express trains, as there are some trains that go non-stop between Elmhurst and Chicago. Evening peak trains make the run between Ogilvie and Elmhurst in as little as 24 minutes. As of 2018, Elmhurst is the fifth busiest of the 236 non-downtown stations in the Metra system, with an average of 1,550 weekday boardings. Unless otherwise announced, inbound trains use the north platform and outbound trains use the south platform.
As of September 8, 2025, Elmhurst is served by all 58 trains (29 in each direction) on weekdays, by all 20 trains (10 in each direction) on Saturdays, and by all 18 trains (nine in each direction) on Sundays and holidays.
The station is on ground level, on York Street between 1st Street and Park Avenue. Elmhurst University and Wilder Park Conservatory are both several blocks away. Pace suburban buses stop on York Street and on 1st Street. The station is just a few blocks west of Union Pacific's Proviso railroad yard. Due to the relatively close proximity to the railroad yard, Metra trains occasionally must use the middle track to avoid the frequent freight traffic. Because the middle track has no platform, the train's cab car receives and discharges passengers at the York Street railroad crossing when this does occur.
Where to Stay in Elmhurst
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Elmhurst?
Within an hour or so of Elmhurst: Willis Tower (Sears Tower) (25 km), Lou Mitchell's (25 km), Route 66 - Chicago Start (26 km), Art Institute of Chicago (26 km).
Are there any good drives near Elmhurst?
The nearest famous roads are Route 66 - Chicago Start.
Where is Elmhurst?
Elmhurst is in Illinois, United States, about 4 km from Hillside.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 45,957
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Illinois
- Timezone
- America/Chicago
- Coordinates
- 41.8995, -87.9403
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United States
AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.
Full driving guide for United StatesTags
Worth the detour from Elmhurst
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
cafe
Lou Mitchell's
Serving double-yolk eggs and free Milk Duds since 1923, this Chicago diner beside the start of Route 66 is the traditional first breakfast of the Mother Road journey.
25 km · about 30 min drive
historic highway
Route 66 - Chicago Start
The 'Begin Route 66' sign on Adams Street at Michigan Avenue marks the start of the 2,448-mile Mother Road to Santa Monica: the classic photo stop before heading west.
26 km · about 30 min drive
museum
Art Institute of Chicago
One of the oldest and largest art museums in the US, renowned for its Impressionist collection and Grant Wood's American Gothic.
26 km · about 30 min drive
museum
Field Museum of Natural History
Home to Sue, the largest and most complete T. rex ever found, along with extensive anthropological and geological collections.
27 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Shedd Aquarium
Iconic Chicago aquarium on the Lake Michigan waterfront housing over 32,000 animals from around the world.
27 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Elmhurst
- 26 kmRoute 66 - Chicago StartThe 'Begin Route 66' sign on Adams Street at Michigan Avenue marks the start of the 2,448-mile Mother Road to Santa Monica: the classic photo stop before heading west.
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