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Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Aux Sable, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 22m

Distance

58.9 mi

95 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 16m ★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Des Plaines, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Aux Sable, IL, IL

Aux Sable, IL

Rafał Nagrodzki

Trip Overview

This 58.9-mile drive from Des Plaines, IL, to Aux Sable, IL, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 22 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, with no need to break it up overnight. You'll navigate primarily on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway and the Tri-State Tollway, with a portion on West Eames Street. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this journey through the Midwest region of Illinois is quite budget-friendly. Expect a mixed driving experience as you make your way south.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 58.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The character of this drive is largely defined by its highway share, which is 48%. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced travel, including a longest continuous segment of 28.3 miles on the Adlai Stevenson Expressway. While much of the route involves expressway driving, the inclusion of West Eames Street suggests a transition to more local road conditions as you approach your destination. This mixed profile means you'll experience both efficient highway cruising and potentially more varied traffic patterns.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 28.3 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 0.1 miles in near South Des Plaines River Road.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Des Plaines River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Des Plaines River Road

Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
18.6 mi into trip | ~25m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
19.8 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 23 Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
7
20.5 mi into trip | ~28m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
49.2 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in

Take the exit toward US 6: Joliet, Morris

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 248 Toward US 6: Joliet, Morris

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Des Plaines, IL and Aux Sable, IL, road signs point toward St. Louis and Morris.

St. Louis

19.8 mi in | ~26m

Morris

49.2 mi in | ~1h 4m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Adlai Stevenson Expressway 28.3 mi 35m
Tri-State Tollway 17.5 mi 22m
West Eames Street 7.5 mi 12m
South Tabler Road 1.8 mi 4m
South Des Plaines River Road 1.8 mi 3m
Henry Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Cemetery Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Adlai Stevenson Expressway — 28.3 mi, about 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Aux Sable, IL.

1

Start on Henry Avenue

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Henry Avenue
2

Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · South Des Plaines River Road
Use the left lane.
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward I 294 South: Indiana
4

Merge onto I 294

11 mi · 14 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294

1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 23 Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto I 55

28 mi · 35 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Exit 248 Toward US 6: Joliet, Morris Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn right onto US 6

7.5 mi · 12 min · West Eames Street
12

Turn left onto South Tabler Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · South Tabler Road
13

At end of road, turn right onto Cemetery Road

295 ft · 11 sec · Cemetery Road
14

Turn left

471 ft · 20 sec
15

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29.5 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 39m into the drive

city in DuPage County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Darien, IL

29 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

Elmhurst, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Woodridge, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.5 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Aux Sable, IL

The final approach into Aux Sable, 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

$9.21 one way

$18.42 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.11 $20.22
premium $4.89 $11.33 $22.67
diesel $5.61 $13.00 $26.01

Estimated Tolls: $1.05

Tri-state Tollway (17.5 mi) $1.05

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Tolls

$1

Total

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 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 17.7 0 $6.18 $2.83
Efficient EV 14.7 0 $5.15 $2.36
EV Truck/SUV 23.6 0 $8.25 $3.77

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.

Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Des Plaines, IL

Evening in Des Plaines on Thursday

Local time

5:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SW 10 to 15 mph 87% chance Live forecast

Tornado Watch

Tornado Watch issued April 14 at 5:45PM CDT until April 14 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 14 at 4:05PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Destination

Aux Sable, IL

Evening in Aux Sable on Thursday

Local time

5:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°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

8 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 22m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Aux Sable, IL covers 58.9 miles and takes about 1h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adlai Stevenson Expressway, Tri-State Tollway, West Eames Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.5 miles from Des Plaines, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.21 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Des Plaines River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Des Plaines, IL and Aux Sable, IL, road signs point toward St. Louis and Morris.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

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