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Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Plainfield, IL

Drive Time

4h 37m

Distance

231.2 mi

372 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

28 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 24m ★
6 AM
4h 37m
8 AM
5h 4m
10 AM
4h 46m
12 PM
4h 44m
3 PM
4h 48m
5 PM
5h 3m
8 PM
4h 29m

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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Downtown Des Plaines, IL, IL

Des Plaines, IL

Tom Fisk

Downtown Plainfield, IL, IL

Plainfield, IL

Mike Tyurin

Trip Overview

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Plainfield, IL covers 231.2 miles and takes about 4h 37m 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, Route 130 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 $35.12 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

115.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h 37m highway drive covering 231.2 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 31 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.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 231.2 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 15 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
Route 130 10 mi 14m
Illinois Route 16 6 mi 8m
Cicero Avenue 4.9 mi 7m
North 1250th Street 4.7 mi 7m
North Haughton Highway 4.4 mi 6m
County Road 1700E 2.1 mi 3m
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 Plainfield, 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-A Toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 12A Toward IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue Use 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 190A Toward 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

4.7 mi · 7 min · North 1250th Street
29

Turn left onto North Street

0.4 mi · 58 sec · North Street
30

Turn left onto North 1280th Street

61 ft · 2 sec · North 1280th Street
31

Arrive at destination

North 1280th Street

Trip Plan

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 115.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 2h 16m 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 115.6 miles or 2h 16m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plainfield, 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 231.2 miles and 4h 37m.

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 I 57 for about 156.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 115.6 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 2h 16m into the drive

Downtown Joliet, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Joliet, IL

116 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 115.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 156.5 miles.

Arriving in Plainfield, IL

The final approach into Plainfield, 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 Plainfield, IL.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

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...

7 mi from route ~18 min detour Free near mile 31.9
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.12 one way

$70.23 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 81 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $38.71 $77.42
premium $4.80 $43.65 $87.29
diesel $5.64 $51.36 $102.73

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

$35

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 80.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

28 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Holiday Inn Express - Tesla Supercharger

Des Plaines, IL

Tesla

52 DCFC

ORD Gigahub, Des Plaines, IL

Des Plaines, IL

BP_PULSE

40 DCFC

GFCS LLC Melrose Park

Chicago, IL

IN_CHARGE

18 DCFC

Chicago Travel Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Chicago, IL

Tesla

14 DCFC

Abt Electronics - Tesla Supercharger

Glenview, IL

Tesla

10 DCFC

Fashion Outlets of Chicago - Tesla Supercharger

Rosemont, IL

Tesla

10 DCFC

Holiday Inn Chicago O'Hare

Rosemont, IL

NAYAX_ENERGY

8 DCFC

Golf Mill Ford

Niles, IL

EVXY

6 DCFC

Tesla: 5 EVXY: 4 eVgo Network: 3 Blink Network: 3 BP_PULSE: 3 NAYAX_ENERGY: 3 IN_CHARGE: 2 ChargePoint Network: 2 NOODOE: 1 Electrify America: 1 Non-Networked: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 69.4 0 $24.28 $11.10
Efficient EV 57.8 0 $20.23 $9.25
EV Truck/SUV 92.5 1 $32.37 $14.80

Gas CO2

81 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Monday

Local time

2:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Plainfield, IL

Afternoon in Plainfield on Monday

Local time

2:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°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

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

4h 37m on the road

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

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 Plainfield, IL covers 231.2 miles and takes about 4h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Tri-State Tollway, Route 130. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 115.6 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 $35.12 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 231.2 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 Plainfield, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Plainfield, IL to Des Plaines, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

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