Origin
Cortland, IL
Night in Cortland on Wednesday
Local time
10:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cortland, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
61 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cortland, IL
Mike Tyurin
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cortland, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 61 miles and takes about 1h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Somonauk Road, West Lincoln Highway, LaFox Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.54 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
30.5 miles from Cortland, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 8m drive with frequent turns across 61 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Somonauk 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 Cortland, IL to Des Plaines, IL is easy. At 1h 8m 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 Cortland, IL to Des Plaines, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Somonauk Road | — | — |
| West Lincoln Highway | — | — |
| LaFox Road | — | — |
| Burlington Road | — | — |
| Bolcum Road | — | — |
| Randall Road | — | — |
| I 90 East | — | — |
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Somonauk Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cortland, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on East Chestnut Avenue
20 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Chestnut Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Somonauk Road
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Somonauk Road
3
Turn left onto West Lincoln Highway
15 mi
·
20 min
·
West Lincoln Highway
4
Turn left onto LaFox Road
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
LaFox Road
5
Continue on Burlington Road
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Burlington Road
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Bolcum Road
23 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bolcum Road
7
Exit the roundabout onto Bolcum Road
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Bolcum Road
8
Turn left onto Randall Road
8.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Randall Road
9
Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 East: Chicago
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 90 East: Chicago
10
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
11
Take the exit slight right toward Elmhurst Road
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Elmhurst Road
12
Keep slight left to continue on Elmhurst Road North
289 ft
·
9 sec
·
Elmhurst Road North
13
Turn straight onto South Elmhurst Road
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Elmhurst Road
14
Turn right onto West Oakton Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
West Oakton Street
15
Continue on West Oakton Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Oakton Street
16
Continue on East Oakton Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Oakton Street
17
Turn left onto Lee Street
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Lee Street
18
Turn right onto East Algonquin Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Algonquin Road
19
Turn left onto White Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
White Street
20
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
262 ft
·
12 sec
·
Henry Avenue
21
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30.5 miles from Cortland, IL, or about 34m 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 13 miles or 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.5 miles or 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 58m
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 Cortland, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cortland, IL
This is one driving day of about 61 miles and 1h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Cortland, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.5 mi from Cortland, IL · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.5 miles from Cortland, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.54 one way
$19.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.47 | $20.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.74 | $23.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.47 | $26.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.34 | $2.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.54 | $3.90 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Night in Des Plaines on Wednesday
Local time
10:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 8m 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 Cortland, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 61 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Somonauk Road, West Lincoln Highway, LaFox Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.5 miles from Cortland, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.54 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.
The drive from Cortland, IL to Des Plaines, IL is easy. At 1h 8m 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 Cortland, IL to Des Plaines, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cortland, IL to Des Plaines, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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