Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Gardner, IL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 29m

Distance

71.4 mi

115 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min

4 AM

1h 23m ★

6 AM

1h 30m

8 AM

1h 43m

10 AM

1h 34m

12 PM

1h 33m

3 PM

1h 35m

5 PM

1h 43m

8 PM

1h 25m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Gardner, IL covers 71.4 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Des Plaines River Road, I 294 South, Tri-State Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.16 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

35.7 miles from Des Plaines, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 1h 29m drive with frequent turns across 71.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

South Des Plaines River Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Gardner, IL is easy. At 1h 29m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Des Plaines, IL to Gardner, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South Des Plaines River Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 294 South	Unavailable	Refreshing
Tri-State Tollway	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 55	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 55 South	Unavailable	Refreshing
Adlai Stevenson Expressway	Unavailable	Refreshing
IL 53	Unavailable	Refreshing
West Main Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: South Des Plaines River Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

3

Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 South: Indiana

0.4 mi · 55 sec · I 294 South: Indiana

4

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

11 mi · 14 min · Tri-State Tollway

5

Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway

6

Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

7

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

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

8

Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

0.4 mi · 56 sec · I 55 South: Saint Louis

9

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

49 mi · 58 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

10

Take the exit slight right toward IL 53: Gardner

0.3 mi · 35 sec · IL 53: Gardner

11

Turn left

0.3 mi · 29 sec

12

Continue on West Main Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

13

Turn right onto South Grundy Street

112 ft · 5 sec · South Grundy Street

14

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 35.7 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 44m into the drive.

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 71.4 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 35.7 miles or 44m 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 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gardner, 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 71.4 miles and 1h 29m.

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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 35.7 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 44m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orland Park, IL

36 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

Joliet, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 71.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Orland Park, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35.7 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Gardner, IL

The final approach into Gardner, 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 Gardner, 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

$11.16 one way

$22.33 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$12.26	$24.51
premium	$4.89	$13.74	$27.48
diesel	$5.61	$15.76	$31.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 25 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	21.4	$7.50	$3.43
Efficient EV	17.9	$6.25	$2.86
EV Truck/SUV	28.6	$10.00	$4.57

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (68% 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 days ago

Origin

Des Plaines, IL

Late night in Des Plaines on Wednesday

Local time

2:06 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gardner, IL

Late night in Gardner on Wednesday

Local time

2:06 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°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

6 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 29m 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 Gardner, IL covers 71.4 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South Des Plaines River Road, I 294 South, Tri-State Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 35.7 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 $11.16 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.

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Gardner, IL is easy. At 1h 29m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Des Plaines, IL to Gardner, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Des Plaines, IL to Gardner, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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