Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Randolph, IL

Drive Time

6h 52m

Distance

349.5 mi

562 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$53

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

28 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

6h 41m ★

6 AM

6h 53m

8 AM

7h 16m

10 AM

7h 1m

12 PM

6h 59m

3 PM

7h 2m

5 PM

7h 15m

8 PM

6h 46m

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

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Randolph, IL covers 349.5 miles and takes about 6h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 55, Adlai Stevenson Expressway, IL 3 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 142.7 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.09 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

174.8 miles from Des Plaines, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 19m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 6h 52m highway drive covering 349.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 142.7 miles on I 55.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 142.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. 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.

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 349.5 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 18.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.5 miles: 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.

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.

19.8 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

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

Exit 23 Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

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

140.3 mi into trip | ~2h 42m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

205.1 mi into trip | ~3h 52m in | I 55

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Towns Along This Route

Between Des Plaines, IL and Randolph, IL, road signs point toward St. Louis and Springfield.

St. Louis

19.8 mi in | ~26m

Springfield

140.3 mi in | ~2h 42m | via I 55

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 55	142.7 mi	2h 34m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway	119.4 mi	2h 13m
IL 3	23.3 mi	28m
Tri-State Tollway	17.5 mi	22m
North Illinois Street	9.8 mi	15m
South Illinois Street	8.3 mi	12m
Main Street	8 mi	11m
State Route 159	6.1 mi	9m

Longest stretch: I 55 — 142.7 mi, about 2h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Henry Avenue

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Henry Avenue

Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · South Des Plaines River Road

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 55 sec

Toward I 294 South: Indiana

Merge onto I 294

11 mi · 14 min · Tri-State Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294

1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 23 Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 56 sec

Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 55

119 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

65 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 55

Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

78 mi · 1 hr 23 min · I 55

Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec

Exit 15A Toward IL 159 South: Collinsville

Continue on IL 159

3.0 mi · 4 min · Vandalia Street

Continue on IL 159

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Morrison Avenue

Continue on IL 159

9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street

Enter roundabout onto IL 159

181 ft · 4 sec · South Illinois Street

Continue on IL 159

8.3 mi · 12 min · South Illinois Street

Continue on IL 159

6.1 mi · 9 min · State Route 159

Continue on IL 156; IL 159

0.2 mi · 19 sec · North Main Street

Continue on IL 159

0.2 mi · 13 sec · N Main St

Continue on IL 159

8.0 mi · 11 min · Main Street

Continue on IL 3

23 mi · 28 min · IL 3

Turn left onto IL 150

5.6 mi · 9 min · State Street

Turn right onto Chester Road

0.3 mi · 50 sec · Chester Road

Turn right onto Wine Hill Road

131 ft · 3 sec · Wine Hill Road

Arrive at destination

Wine Hill Road

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 174.8 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 3h 19m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.7 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 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 174.8 miles or 3h 19m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Randolph, 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 349.5 miles and 6h 52m.

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 55 for about 142.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 174.8 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 3h 19m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Decatur, IL

175 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.

Decatur, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 174.8 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 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 142.7 miles.

Arriving in Randolph, IL

The final approach into Randolph, 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 Randolph, 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.

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

National Monument

In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 204.9

View on nps.gov

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...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free near mile 24.1

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$53.09 one way

$106.17 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 122 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$58.52	$117.04
premium	$4.80	$65.98	$131.96
diesel	$5.64	$77.65	$155.29

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.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$53

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$79–$104

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 122.3 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 NAYAX_ENERGY: 3 BP_PULSE: 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 $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	104.9	1	$36.70	$16.78
Efficient EV	87.4	0	$30.58	$13.98
EV Truck/SUV	139.8	1	$48.93	$22.37

Gas CO2

122 kg

EV CO2

41 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 39 minutes ago

Origin

Des Plaines, IL

Morning in Des Plaines on Monday

Local time

9:42 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Randolph, IL

Morning in Randolph on Monday

Local time

9:42 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Mostly Sunny

S 12 to 17 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA 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

34 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 52m 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 Randolph, IL covers 349.5 miles and takes about 6h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 55, Adlai Stevenson Expressway, IL 3. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 174.8 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 $53.09 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.