Origin
Des Plaines, IL
Afternoon in Des Plaines on Thursday
Local time
2:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Mokena, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
40.6 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Mokena, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 40.6-mile journey from Des Plaines, IL to Mokena, IL is a straightforward drive, taking an estimated 1 hour and 2 minutes. You'll navigate primarily using the Tri-State Tollway, South Wolf Road, and Kingery Highway. With a modest fuel cost of around $6 and no recommended overnight stops, this route is perfectly suited as a single-day trip. The Midwest regions of both your starting and ending points mean you'll stay within familiar territory. This is a practical drive for getting from point A to point B within Illinois.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 40.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" feel for this 40.6-mile trip, despite a 7% highway share. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 17.5 miles on the Tri-State Tollway. As you transition from the tollway to local roads like South Wolf Road and Kingery Highway, the pace will likely shift, requiring more attention to turns and traffic signals. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise but rather a more grounded route through suburban and local landscapes.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 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 17.5 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 40.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 20.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 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.
7
20.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
22.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward IL 83 North, IL 83 South: Kingery Road
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 274
Toward IL 83 North, IL 83 South: Kingery Road
8
22.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 83 South: Kingery Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 83 South: Kingery Road
8
23.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 83 South: Kingery Road South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward IL 83 South: Kingery Road South
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Des Plaines, IL to Mokena, IL, road signs begin pointing toward St. Louis along the way.
St. Louis
19.8 mi in
|
~26m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 17.5 mi | 22m |
| South Wolf Road | 9.7 mi | 17m |
| Kingery Highway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| McCarthy Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| South Des Plaines River Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Bell Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Archer Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 17.5 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Mokena, 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
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 55
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 274
Toward IL 83 North, IL 83 South: Kingery Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward IL 83 South: Kingery Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward IL 83 South: Kingery Road South
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto IL 83
200 ft
·
3 sec
·
Kingery Highway
14
Continue on IL 83
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Kingery Highway
15
Continue on IL 83
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 83
16
Continue on IL 171; IL 83
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Archer Avenue
17
Turn left onto Bell Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Bell Road
18
Turn left onto McCarthy Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
McCarthy Road
19
Turn right onto South Wolf Road
9.7 mi
·
17 min
·
South Wolf Road
20
Arrive at destination
Wolf Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.3 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mokena, IL
The final approach into Mokena, 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
$6.35 one way
$12.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.97 | $13.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.81 | $15.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.96 | $17.93 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.05
Tri-state Tollway
(17.5 mi)
$1.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Mokena, IL
Afternoon in Mokena on Thursday
Local time
2:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 2m 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 Mokena, IL covers 40.6 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, South Wolf Road, Kingery Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.3 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 $6.35 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 40.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 20.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Des Plaines, IL to Mokena, IL, road signs begin pointing toward St. Louis along the way.
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