The drive from Danville, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 153.5 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 136, I 57, Tri-State Tollway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.3 miles on US 136.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.00 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
76.7 miles from Danville, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Des Plaines is in Chicagoland. It is an inner-ring, northwest suburb of Chicago with two distinct portions: a suburban northern portion reminiscient of other, nearby northwest suburbs (including Niles, Park Ridge, and Mount Prospect), as well as a built-up southern portion with the businesses, hotels, and other amenities of the O'Hare Airport corridor (much like Rosemont, Chicago's O'Hare neighborhood, and Elk Grove Village).
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 153.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Danville, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 153.5 miles and takes about 3h 33m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 136 is the longest continuous segment at about 39.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 115.8 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 15 significant decision points across 153.5 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 115.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 150.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 42m 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
116.1 mi into trip|~2h 43m 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
150.4 mi into trip|~3h 27m 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
151.1 mi into trip|~3h 28m 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
151.2 mi into trip|~3h 29m 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 Danville, IL to Des Plaines, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin along the way.
Wisconsin
115.8 mi in|~2h 42m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 136
39.3 mi
58m
I 57
37 mi
42m
Tri-State Tollway
32.5 mi
40m
North 2100 E Road
14.8 mi
22m
South State Route 1
6.7 mi
9m
North Vermilion Street
6.3 mi
9m
IL 17
5.8 mi
8m
East Walnut Street
2.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 136
— 39.3 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Danville, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on US 136
13 ft·7 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto North Vermilion Street
6.3 mi·9 min·North Vermilion Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 136; IL 1
39 mi·58 min·US 136; IL 1
4
Turn left onto US 24; IL 1
2.7 mi·6 min·East Walnut Street
5
Turn right onto IL 1
1.0 mi·1 min·North 2100 East Road
6
Continue on IL 1
15 mi·22 min·North 2100 E Road
7
Continue on IL 1
0.9 mi·1 min·S 7000E Road
8
Continue on IL 1
0.5 mi·52 sec·E 7000S Road
9
Turn left onto IL 1
0.3 mi·30 sec·South Dixie Highway
10
Continue on IL 1
6.7 mi·9 min·South State Route 1
11
Turn left onto IL 17
5.8 mi·8 min·IL 17
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·1 min
Toward I-57 North: Chicago
13
Merge onto I 57
37 mi·42 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
Keep slight right at fork
1.8 mi·3 min
Exit 349Toward I 294 Toll North: WisconsinUse the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Merge onto I 294
21 mi·25 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
12 mi·15 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 42 A-BToward Touhy AvenueUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 42 A-BToward Touhy Avenue
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Touhy Avenue WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 42BToward Touhy Avenue WestUse the right lane.
22
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
325 ft·7 sec·East Touhy Avenue
23
Turn slight right
339 ft·9 sec
24
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
1.7 mi·3 min·South Des Plaines River Road
25
Turn left onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi·24 sec·Henry Avenue
26
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 76.7 miles from Danville, IL, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.3 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 34 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.7 miles or 1h 57m 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 56m
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 Danville, 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 Danville, IL
This is one driving day of about 153.5 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Danville, 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 US 136 for about 39.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.7 mi from Danville, IL
· 1h 57m 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 116.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.00 one way
$48.00 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.35
$52.70
premium
$4.89
$29.54
$59.08
diesel
$5.61
$33.89
$67.78
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
$24
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.1
0
$16.12
$7.37
Efficient EV
38.4
0
$13.43
$6.14
EV Truck/SUV
61.4
0
$21.49
$9.82
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Danville, IL
Late night
in Danville on Saturday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Plaines, IL
Late night
in Des Plaines on Saturday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 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
3h 33m 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 Danville, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 153.5 miles and takes about 3h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 136, I 57, Tri-State Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.7 miles from Danville, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.00 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 153.5 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 115.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 150.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Danville, 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 by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
