Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Elmhurst, IL

Drive Time

20m

Distance

12.5 mi

20 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

29 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 19m ★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 20m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Des Plaines, IL, IL

Des Plaines, IL

Tom Fisk

Downtown Elmhurst, IL, IL

Elmhurst, IL

Pho Tomass

Trip Overview

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Elmhurst, IL covers 12.5 miles and takes about 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Tri-State Tollway, South Des Plaines River Road, East North Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.1 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.90 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

6.2 miles from Des Plaines, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 20m drive with frequent turns across 12.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 8.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 12.5 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 0.1 miles (South Des Plaines River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

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.
8
10.4 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward I 290 West: Rockford, Elmhurst

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

Use the right lane. Exit 33 Toward I 290 West: Rockford, Elmhurst
8
10.7 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward IL 64 West: North Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 13B Toward IL 64 West: North Avenue
7
12.1 mi into trip | ~19m in | West 2nd Street

Turn right onto West 2nd Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
12.5 mi into trip | ~20m in

Turn sharp left

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Tri-State Tollway 8.1 mi 10m
South Des Plaines River Road 1.8 mi 3m
East North Avenue 0.8 mi 2m
North York Street 0.3 mi <1m
North Addison Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
West Park Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Henry Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
I 290 <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Tri-State Tollway — 8.1 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Elmhurst, 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

8.1 mi · 10 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 33 Toward I 290 West: Rockford, Elmhurst Use the right lane.
6

Merge onto I 290

464 ft · 7 sec · I 290
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 13B Toward IL 64 West: North Avenue Use the right lane.
8

Turn straight onto IL 64

0.8 mi · 2 min · East North Avenue
9

Turn left onto North York Street

0.3 mi · 36 sec · North York Street
Use the left lane.
10

Turn right onto West 2nd Street

335 ft · 9 sec · West 2nd Street
Use the right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto West 2nd Street

127 ft · 8 sec · West 2nd Street
12

At end of road, turn left onto North Addison Avenue

0.2 mi · 28 sec · North Addison Avenue
13

Turn right onto Cottage Hill Avenue

230 ft · 13 sec · Cottage Hill Avenue
14

Turn left onto West Park Avenue

0.1 mi · 26 sec · West Park Avenue
15

Turn sharp left

65 ft · 4 sec
16

Arrive at 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 6.2 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.1 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 12.5 miles or 20m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 6.2 miles or 9m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elmhurst, 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 12.5 miles and 20m.

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 Tri-State Tollway for about 8.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 6.2 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 9m into the drive

Downtown Oak Park, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oak Park, IL

6 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

Berwyn, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oak Park, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 6.2 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Elmhurst, IL

The final approach into Elmhurst, 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 Elmhurst, IL.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

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...

22 mi from route ~54 min detour Free near mile 10.3
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.90 one way

$3.80 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $2.09 $4.19
premium $4.80 $2.36 $4.72
diesel $5.64 $2.78 $5.55

Estimated Tolls: $0.49

Tri-state Tollway (8.1 mi) $0.49

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

$2

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

29 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Holiday Inn Express - Tesla Supercharger

Des Plaines, IL

Tesla

52 DCFC

ORD Gigahub, Des Plaines, IL

Des Plaines, IL

BP_PULSE

40 DCFC

GFCS LLC Melrose Park

Chicago, IL

IN_CHARGE

18 DCFC

Chicago Travel Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Chicago, IL

Tesla

14 DCFC

Abt Electronics - Tesla Supercharger

Glenview, IL

Tesla

10 DCFC

Fashion Outlets of Chicago - Tesla Supercharger

Rosemont, IL

Tesla

10 DCFC

Holiday Inn Chicago O'Hare

Rosemont, IL

NAYAX_ENERGY

8 DCFC

Golf Mill Ford

Niles, IL

EVXY

6 DCFC

Tesla: 5 EVXY: 4 eVgo Network: 3 Blink Network: 3 NAYAX_ENERGY: 3 ChargePoint Network: 3 NOODOE: 2 BP_PULSE: 2 IN_CHARGE: 2 Electrify America: 1 Non-Networked: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.8 0 $1.31 $0.60
Efficient EV 3.1 0 $1.09 $0.50
EV Truck/SUV 5 0 $1.75 $0.80

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 data refreshed 5 hours ago

Origin

Des Plaines, IL

Morning in Des Plaines on Monday

Local time

9:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Mostly Cloudy

WSW 15 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Elmhurst, IL

Morning in Elmhurst on Monday

Local time

9:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 15 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

1 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

20m 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 Elmhurst, IL covers 12.5 miles and takes about 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, South Des Plaines River Road, East North Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.2 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 $1.90 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 12.5 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 0.1 miles (South Des Plaines River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Des Plaines, IL to Elmhurst, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Elmhurst, IL to Des Plaines, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

13.2 mi 19m

Continue From Elmhurst, IL

Bremen, IL 340 mi · 6h 41m Sleepy Hollow, IL 333.3 mi · 6h 16m Johnston City, IL 316.6 mi · 5h 55m Rosemont, IL 284.4 mi · 5h 19m

More from Des Plaines, IL

Metropolis, IL 379.6 mi · 7h 4m Pleasant Grove, IL 356.7 mi · 6h 43m Randolph, IL 349.5 mi · 6h 52m Campton, IL 345 mi · 6h 45m Goreville, IL 344.1 mi · 6h 25m Chester, IL 343.6 mi · 6h 42m

More trips to Elmhurst, IL

Metropolis, IL 369.7 mi Murphysboro, IL 341.5 mi Sleepy Hollow, IL 335 mi Campton, IL 334 mi Chester, IL 332.6 mi Carterville, IL 330.2 mi

Explore more options from Des Plaines, IL or browse trips ending in Elmhurst, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

Explore maps for Des Plaines, IL or Elmhurst, IL on MapSof.net.