The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Mount Carmel, IL covers 300.5 miles and takes about 6h 16m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, Tri-State Tollway, County Road 1150 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 156.5 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.98 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
150.3 miles from Des Plaines, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 16m. Total distance: 300.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 16m highway drive covering 300.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Tri-State Tollway. The longest continuous stretch is about 156.5 miles on I 57.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 156.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Des Plaines River Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 300.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Des Plaines River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Des Plaines River Road
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Merge onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
156.5 mi
2h 49m
Tri-State Tollway
28.3 mi
35m
County Road 1150
24 mi
32m
North 1250th Street
13.3 mi
19m
South Van Buren Street
11 mi
15m
State Route 15
10.6 mi
15m
Route 130
10 mi
14m
County Road 1100 East
6.7 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 156.5 mi, about 2h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Mount Carmel, 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-AToward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 12AToward IL 50 South: Cicero AvenueUse 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
157 mi·2 hr 49 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 190AToward IL 16 East: Charleston
16
Turn straight onto IL 16
0.7 mi·1 min·Charleston Avenue East
17
Continue on IL 16
6.0 mi·8 min·Illinois Route 16
18
Continue on IL 16
1.8 mi·2 min·West Lincoln Avenue
19
Turn right onto IL 130
1.6 mi·2 min·18th Street
20
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·Illinois Route 130
21
Continue on IL 130
10.0 mi·14 min·Route 130
22
Continue on IL 130
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 1825 East
23
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·County Road 1775 E
24
Continue on IL 130
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Haughton Highway
25
Continue on IL 130
1.3 mi·1 min·1700E
26
Continue on IL 130
4.0 mi·5 min·North Haughton Highway
27
Continue on IL 130
2.1 mi·3 min·County Road 1700E
28
Continue on IL 130
13 mi·19 min·North 1250th Street
29
Turn left onto IL 130
11 mi·15 min·South Van Buren Street
30
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi·9 min·County Road 1100 East
31
Continue on IL 130
2.5 mi·4 min·North West Street
32
Continue on IL 130
24 mi·32 min·County Road 1150
Use the straight lane.
33
Turn left onto IL 15
0.4 mi·38 sec·East Elm Street
34
Continue on IL 15
2.6 mi·3 min·900N
35
Continue on IL 15
0.2 mi·19 sec·910N
36
Continue on IL 15
0.6 mi·49 sec·920N
37
Continue on IL 15
0.6 mi·57 sec·Main Street
38
Continue on IL 15
11 mi·15 min·State Route 15
39
Continue on IL 15
1.3 mi·2 min·West 9th Street
40
Turn right onto North Market Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·North Market Street
41
Turn left onto East 5th Street
74 ft·3 sec·East 5th Street
42
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.3 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.5 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 66 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.3 miles or 2h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Carmel, 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 300.5 miles and 6h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 I 57 for about 156.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150.3 mi from Des Plaines, IL
· 2h 53m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 31.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.98 one way
$93.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.58
$103.16
premium
$4.89
$57.83
$115.66
diesel
$5.61
$66.35
$132.69
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.1
1
$31.55
$14.42
Efficient EV
75.1
0
$26.29
$12.02
EV Truck/SUV
120.2
1
$42.07
$19.23
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Des Plaines, IL
Late night
in Des Plaines on Friday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Widespread Fog
ESE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 16 at 8:07PM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 16 at 8:07PM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Mount Carmel, IL
Late night
in Mount Carmel on Friday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
SW 3 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 16 at 8:07PM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 16 at 8:07PM CDT until April 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
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
11 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
6h 16m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Mount Carmel, IL covers 300.5 miles and takes about 6h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Tri-State Tollway, County Road 1150. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 150.3 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 $46.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 300.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Des Plaines River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Des Plaines, IL to Mount Carmel, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
