The drive from Bethany, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 212.6 miles and takes about 4h 12m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, I 72, Tri-State Tollway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 113.8 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
106.3 miles from Bethany, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 212.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 12m highway drive covering 212.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and I 72. The longest continuous stretch is about 113.8 miles on I 57.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 113.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 72. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 174.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 212.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 174.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 209.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
174.9 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Take the exit toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 349-350
Toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevar...
8
175.3 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 349
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
7
209.6 mi into trip|~4h 5m in
Take the exit toward Touhy Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
7
210.2 mi into trip|~4h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Touhy Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Touhy Avenue West
8
210.3 mi into trip|~4h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Touhy Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 42B
Toward Touhy Avenue West
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bethany, IL to Des Plaines, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin along the way.
Wisconsin
174.9 mi in|~3h 21m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
113.8 mi
2h 4m
I 72
36.9 mi
39m
Tri-State Tollway
32.5 mi
40m
IL 121
14.9 mi
20m
North 22nd Street
3.9 mi
6m
US 36
3.1 mi
4m
South Des Plaines River Road
1.7 mi
3m
IL 48
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 113.8 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethany, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on this road
101 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North Lincoln Street
274 ft·17 sec·North Lincoln Street
3
Turn left onto West North Water Street
272 ft·14 sec·West North Water Street
4
Turn right onto North Washington Street
0.3 mi·1 min·North Washington Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto IL 121
15 mi·20 min·IL 121
6
Turn left onto US 36; IL 121
3.1 mi·4 min·US 36; IL 121
7
Turn right onto North 22nd Street
3.9 mi·6 min·North 22nd Street
8
Continue on IL 48
1.0 mi·1 min·IL 48
9
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I-72 East: Champaign
10
Merge onto I 72
37 mi·39 min·I 72
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 182BToward I 57 North: Chicago
12
Merge onto I 57
114 mi·2 hr 4 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 349-350Toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, WisconsinUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
1.8 mi·3 min
Exit 349Toward I 294 Toll North: WisconsinUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Merge onto I 294
21 mi·25 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
12 mi·15 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 42 A-BToward Touhy AvenueUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 42 A-BToward Touhy Avenue
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Touhy Avenue WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 42BToward Touhy Avenue WestUse the right lane.
21
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
325 ft·7 sec·East Touhy Avenue
22
Turn slight right
339 ft·9 sec
23
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
1.7 mi·3 min·South Des Plaines River Road
24
Turn left onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi·24 sec·Henry Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 106.3 miles from Bethany, IL, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 47 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.3 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Des Plaines, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bethany, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethany, IL
This is one driving day of about 212.6 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Bethany, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 113.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106.3 mi from Bethany, IL
· 2h 6m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.24 one way
$66.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.49
$72.99
premium
$4.89
$40.91
$81.83
diesel
$5.61
$46.94
$93.88
Estimated Tolls: $1.95
Tri-state Tollway
(32.5 mi)$1.95
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.8
0
$22.32
$10.20
Efficient EV
53.2
0
$18.60
$8.50
EV Truck/SUV
85
1
$29.76
$13.61
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Bethany, IL
Late night
in Bethany on Friday
Local time
4:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Plaines, IL
Late night
in Des Plaines on Friday
Local time
4:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Sunny
NNW 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 4:04PM CDT until April 16 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 16 at 2:50PM CDT until April 16 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
69°F
Clifton, IL
106 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
17 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 12m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bethany, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 212.6 miles and takes about 4h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, I 72, Tri-State Tollway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106.3 miles from Bethany, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 212.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 174.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 209.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Bethany, IL to Des Plaines, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
