Origin
Blackhawk, IL
Evening in Blackhawk on Wednesday
Local time
6:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blackhawk, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 31m
Distance
144.8 mi
233 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 22m
★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blackhawk, IL
Derek Keats
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Blackhawk, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 144.8 miles and takes about 2h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Army Depot Road, Washington Street, U for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.64 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.4 miles from Blackhawk, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 31m drive with frequent turns across 144.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Army Depot Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Blackhawk, IL to Des Plaines, IL is easy. At 2h 31m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Blackhawk, IL to Des Plaines, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Army Depot Road | — | — |
| Washington Street | — | — |
| U | — | — |
| Madison Street | — | — |
| West Diagonal Street | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
| East Woodbine Street | — | — |
| West North Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Army Depot Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blackhawk, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on Blackhawk Trail
335 ft
·
16 sec
·
Blackhawk Trail
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Army Depot Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Army Depot Road
3
Turn sharp left
6.6 mi
·
9 min
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto Washington Street
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Washington Street
5
At the end of the road, turn right onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
6
Continue on Madison Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Street
7
Continue on West Diagonal Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
West Diagonal Street
8
Continue on North Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
9
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
10
Continue on East Woodbine Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Woodbine Street
11
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
12
Continue on West North Avenue
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West North Avenue
13
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
33 mi
·
41 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
14
Continue on West State Road
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
West State Road
15
Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
16
Continue straight
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East: Chicago
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90 East: Chicago
18
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
19
Keep slight left to continue on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
36 mi
·
38 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
20
Take the exit slight right toward Elmhurst Road
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Elmhurst Road
21
Keep slight left to continue on Elmhurst Road North
289 ft
·
9 sec
·
Elmhurst Road North
22
Turn straight onto South Elmhurst Road
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Elmhurst Road
23
Turn right onto West Oakton Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
West Oakton Street
24
Continue on West Oakton Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Oakton Street
25
Continue on East Oakton Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Oakton Street
26
Turn left onto Lee Street
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Lee Street
27
Turn right onto East Algonquin Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Algonquin Road
28
Turn left onto White Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
White Street
29
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
262 ft
·
12 sec
·
Henry Avenue
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.4 miles from Blackhawk, IL, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
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 32 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.4 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
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 Blackhawk, 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 Blackhawk, IL
This is one driving day of about 144.8 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Blackhawk, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.4 mi from Blackhawk, IL · 1h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 72.4 miles from Blackhawk, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Des Plaines, IL
The final approach into Des Plaines, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Des Plaines, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.64 one way
$45.28 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.86 | $49.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.87 | $55.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.97 | $63.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.20 | $6.95 |
| Efficient EV | 36.2 | 0 | $12.67 | $5.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.9 | 0 | $20.27 | $9.27 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Des Plaines, IL
Evening in Des Plaines on Wednesday
Local time
6:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Freeport, IL
72 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
15 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 31m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Blackhawk, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 144.8 miles and takes about 2h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Army Depot Road, Washington Street, U. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.4 miles from Blackhawk, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.64 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Blackhawk, IL to Des Plaines, IL is easy. At 2h 31m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Blackhawk, IL to Des Plaines, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Blackhawk, IL to Des Plaines, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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