Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Guilford, IL

Drive Time

3h 9m

Distance

143.2 mi

230 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

2h 58m ★

6 AM

3h 10m

8 AM

3h 33m

10 AM

3h 18m

12 PM

3h 16m

3 PM

3h 19m

5 PM

3h 32m

8 PM

3h 3m

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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Des Plaines, IL

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

If you are looking to head west from Des Plaines to Guilford, expect a journey covering 143.2 miles through the Illinois Midwest. With a driving time of approximately 3 hours and 9 minutes, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion. You will navigate a mix of major corridors and local roads, including the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway. Budgeting around $22 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way transit. Since the route is entirely contained within Illinois, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a straightforward drive without the need for an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

71.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a transition from high-speed transit to a more technical, turn-heavy local drive as you progress toward your destination. You will spend roughly 4% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch being 55.3 miles on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Once you leave the major tollways behind, the character of the road changes significantly. You will find yourself navigating South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road, which demands more focus than the initial highway segments. Prepare for a shift in pace that requires you to stay alert through the winding final legs of the trip.

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

There are about 27 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 55.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East Algonquin Road.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 143.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.2 miles (East Algonquin Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (East Oakton Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Algonquin Road

At end of road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road

Navigation decision point

1.2 mi into trip | ~3m in | East Oakton Street

Turn right onto East Oakton Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

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

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 none lane.

59.6 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in

Take the exit toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington

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

Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway	55.3 mi	59m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway	55.1 mi	1h 9m
South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road	8.1 mi	14m
South Galena Avenue	7.3 mi	13m
US 20 Business	3.6 mi	5m
I 39	2.6 mi	2m
East North Avenue	2.1 mi	3m
West Rawlins Road	1.9 mi	4m

Longest stretch: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — 55.3 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Henry Avenue

262 ft · 16 sec · Henry Avenue

Turn left onto White Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · White Street

At end of road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Algonquin Road

Turn left onto US 12; US 45

0.5 mi · 51 sec · Lee Street

Turn right onto East Oakton Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · East Oakton Street

Use the none lane.

Continue on West Oakton Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Oakton Street

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto South Elmhurst Road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · South Elmhurst Road

Use the left / uturn lanes.

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford Use the right lane.

Merge onto I 90

55 mi · 59 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington

Merge onto I 39; US 51

0.5 mi · 30 sec · I 39; US 51

Continue on I 39; US 20; US 51

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 39; US 20; US 51

Keep slight left at fork onto US 20

30 mi · 34 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Take the exit onto US 20 Business

3.6 mi · 5 min · US 20 Business

Toward US 20 BUS: Freeport

Turn slight right onto US 20 Business

7.3 mi · 13 min · South Galena Avenue

Turn left onto US 20

14 mi · 19 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Continue on US 20; IL 78

2.1 mi · 3 min · East North Avenue

Continue on US 20

6.4 mi · 8 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Continue on US 20

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Woodbine Street

Continue on US 20

4.6 mi · 6 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

Continue on US 20

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Turn straight onto US 20

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Diagonal Street

Continue on US 20

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Madison Street

Turn right onto CR 4

8.1 mi · 14 min · South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road

Turn left onto West Rawlins Road

1.9 mi · 4 min · West Rawlins Road

Continue on West Guilford Road

0.4 mi · 56 sec · West Guilford Road

Arrive at destination

West Guilford Road

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 3-hour journey, consider departing early in the morning to avoid midday congestion on the busier highway sections. Since the trip includes only one planned stop, use the flexibility of the shorter duration to pace yourself according to your own comfort. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the latter half of the drive means you should account for slightly slower speeds once you exit the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Because fuel costs are estimated at $22, filling up your tank before leaving Des Plaines will likely suffice for the entire 143.2-mile trek. Always keep an eye on your navigation when transitioning onto South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road to ensure you stay on track through the more rural segments.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 71.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 1h 23m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.3 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 71.6 miles or 1h 23m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guilford, 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 143.2 miles and 3h 9m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 55.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 71.6 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 1h 23m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

72 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 71.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Guilford, IL

The final approach into Guilford, 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 Guilford, 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

$21.75 one way

$43.50 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$23.98	$47.96
premium	$4.80	$27.03	$54.07
diesel	$5.64	$31.81	$63.63

Estimated Tolls: $3.87

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (55.3 mi) $3.87

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

$22

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	43	$15.04	$6.87
Efficient EV	35.8	$12.53	$5.73
EV Truck/SUV	57.3	$20.05	$9.16

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (66% 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 3 days ago

Origin

Des Plaines, IL

Afternoon in Des Plaines on Sunday

Local time

3:04 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Guilford, IL

Afternoon in Guilford on Sunday

Local time

3:04 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°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

27 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

3h 9m 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 Guilford, IL covers 143.2 miles and takes about 3h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 71.6 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 $21.75 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

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

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Return Trip

Guilford, IL to Des Plaines, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

143.8 mi 3h 3m

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Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Guilford, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Guilford, IL

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Des Plaines, IL

Guilford, IL

Same local time

27 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 9m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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