Origin
Des Plaines, IL
Evening in Des Plaines on Thursday
Local time
7:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Frankfort Square, IL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
45.1 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Frankfort Square, IL
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Frankfort Square, IL covers 45.1 miles and takes about 1h 3m 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, Cicero Avenue, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.3 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 45.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 3m drive with frequent turns across 45.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 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 28.3 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 18.6 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
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 45.1 miles you will encounter 18 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 18.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
8
31.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
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 12 B-A
Toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th...
8
31.7 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 12A
Toward IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
7
38.8 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 345B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
7
41.9 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward IL 43 South: Harlem Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 148A
Toward IL 43 South: Harlem Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 28.3 mi | 35m |
| Cicero Avenue | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| I 80 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Harlem Avenue | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| South Des Plaines River Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| I 57 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Mile-Long Bridge | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Saint Francis Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 28.3 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Frankfort Square, 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
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 294
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mile-Long Bridge
8
Continue on I 294
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 12 B-A
Toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 12A
Toward IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn straight onto IL 50; IL 83
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto 167th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
167th Street
Use the left lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
14
Merge onto I 57
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 57
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 345B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 80
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 148A
Toward IL 43 South: Harlem Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Turn straight onto IL 43
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Harlem Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto West Saint Francis Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Saint Francis Road
20
Turn left onto Frankfort Square Road
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Frankfort Square Road
21
Turn right onto Jamison Drive
509 ft
·
22 sec
·
Jamison Drive
22
Arrive at destination
Jamison Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.6 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Frankfort Square, IL
The final approach into Frankfort Square, 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
$7.05 one way
$14.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.74 | $15.48 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.68 | $17.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.96 | $19.92 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.70
Tri-state Tollway
(28.3 mi)
$1.70
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.89 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Frankfort Square, IL
Evening in Frankfort Square on Thursday
Local time
7:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
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
1h 3m 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 Frankfort Square, IL covers 45.1 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, Cicero Avenue, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.6 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 $7.05 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 45.1 miles you will encounter 18 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 18.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Des Plaines, IL to Frankfort Square, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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Return Trip
Frankfort Square, IL to Des Plaines, ILPlan the drive back the other way.
42.1 mi
1h 3m
Continue From Frankfort Square, IL
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