Origin
Des Plaines, IL
Late night in Des Plaines on Monday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Chemung, IL
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
59.1 mi
95 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Plaines, IL
Tom Fisk
Chemung, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Chemung, IL covers 59.1 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, South State Street, East Grant Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.9 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.98 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
29.5 miles from Des Plaines, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 59.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 30.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near White Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (White Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Algonquin Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
White Street
Turn left onto White Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Algonquin Road
At end of road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
5
4.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
35.3 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward US 20: Hampshire, Marengo
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 42
Toward US 20: Hampshire, Marengo
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Des Plaines, IL to Chemung, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Marengo along the way.
Marengo
35.3 mi in
|
~42m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 30.9 mi | 33m |
| South State Street | 10.6 mi | 16m |
| East Grant Highway | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| West Brink Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| East Oakton Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Division Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| West Oakton Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Algonquin Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 30.9 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Chemung, IL.
1
Start on Henry Avenue
262 ft
·
17 sec
·
Henry Avenue
2
Turn left onto White Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
White Street
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Algonquin Road
4
Turn left onto Lee Street
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Lee Street
5
Turn right onto East Oakton Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Oakton Street
6
Continue on West Oakton Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Oakton Street
7
Turn left onto South Elmhurst Road
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Elmhurst Road
8
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90 West Toll: Rockford
9
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
31 mi
·
33 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 20: Hampshire, Marengo
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 20: Hampshire, Marengo
11
At the end of the road, turn left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
12
Continue on East Grant Highway
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Grant Highway
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Grant Highway
92 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Grant Highway
14
Exit the roundabout onto East Grant Highway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Grant Highway
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward East Grant Highway
197 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Grant Highway
16
Exit the roundabout onto East Grant Highway
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Grant Highway
17
Turn right onto South State Street
11 mi
·
16 min
·
South State Street
18
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Division Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Division Street
19
Turn left onto West Brink Street
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
West Brink Street
20
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 29.5 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.9 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 59.1 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.5 miles or 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chemung, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Des Plaines, 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 Des Plaines, IL
This is one driving day of about 59.1 miles and 1h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Des Plaines, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 30.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.5 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 59.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 Chemung, IL
The final approach into Chemung, 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 Chemung, 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
$8.98 one way
$17.95 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $9.90 | $19.79 |
| premium | $4.80 | $11.16 | $22.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $13.13 | $26.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.21 | $2.84 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
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
Chemung, IL
Late night in Chemung on Monday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
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 18m 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 Des Plaines, IL to Chemung, IL covers 59.1 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, South State Street, East Grant Highway. 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 $8.98 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 is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (White Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Algonquin Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Des Plaines, IL to Chemung, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Marengo along the way.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Chemung, IL
More trips to Chemung, IL
Explore more options from Des Plaines, IL or browse trips ending in Chemung, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Des Plaines, IL or Chemung, IL on MapSof.net.