Origin
Des Plaines, IL
Afternoon in Des Plaines on Monday
Local time
2:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Lake Forest, IL
Drive Time
31m
Distance
21 mi
34 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Plaines, IL
Tom Fisk
Lake Forest, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Lake Forest, IL covers 21 miles and takes about 31m 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, East Golf Road, I 294 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.19 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
10.5 miles from Des Plaines, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 31m drive with frequent turns across 21 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.
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 Lake Forest, IL is easy. At 31m 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 Lake Forest, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Des Plaines River Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Golf Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 294 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tri-State Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IL 60 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Townline Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Townline Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| W Kennedy Road | 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 Lake Forest, IL.
1
Start on Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Henry Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Des Plaines River Road
3
Turn right onto East Golf Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Golf Road
4
Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 North Toll: Wisconsin
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 294 North Toll: Wisconsin
5
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
6
Take the exit slight right toward IL 60: Town Line Road
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
IL 60: Town Line Road
7
Turn straight onto East Townline Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
East Townline Road
8
Continue on Townline Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Townline Road
9
Continue on W Kennedy Road
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
W Kennedy Road
10
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Skokie Highway
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Skokie Highway
11
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
12
Turn right onto West Deerpath
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Deerpath
13
Turn left onto North McKinley Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
North McKinley Road
14
Turn slight right onto East Woodland Road
203 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Woodland Road
15
Turn slight left onto Griffith Road
72 ft
·
3 sec
·
Griffith Road
16
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 10.5 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 15m 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 21 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.5 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Forest, 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 21 miles and 31m.
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 10.5 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.5 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lake Forest, IL
The final approach into Lake Forest, 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 Lake Forest, 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
$3.19 one way
$6.38 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $3.52 | $7.03 |
| premium | $4.80 | $3.96 | $7.93 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.67 | $9.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.01 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.84 | $0.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.94 | $1.34 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Lake Forest, IL
Afternoon in Lake Forest on Monday
Local time
2:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
3 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
31m 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 Lake Forest, IL covers 21 miles and takes about 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Des Plaines River Road, East Golf Road, I 294 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.5 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 $3.19 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 Lake Forest, IL is easy. At 31m 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 Lake Forest, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Des Plaines, IL to Lake Forest, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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