Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Saint Rose, IL

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

5h 43m

Distance

292.6 mi

471 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 30m ★

6 AM

5h 43m

8 AM

6h 10m

10 AM

5h 53m

12 PM

5h 50m

3 PM

5h 54m

5 PM

6h 8m

8 PM

5h 35m

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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city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Des Plaines, IL

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Trip Overview

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Saint Rose, IL covers 292.6 miles and takes about 5h 43m 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, Tri-State Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 123.8 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.74 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

146.3 miles from Des Plaines, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 48m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 5h 43m highway drive covering 292.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 123.8 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 23 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 123.8 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 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 17 significant decision points across 292.6 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 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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.

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

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Des Plaines, IL and Saint Rose, IL, road signs point toward St. Louis, Springfield and Lebanon.

St. Louis

19.8 mi in | ~26m

Springfield

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

Lebanon

264.1 mi in | ~4h 55m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 55	123.8 mi	2h 13m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway	119.4 mi	2h 13m
Tri-State Tollway	17.5 mi	22m
IL 4	10.1 mi	15m
IL 143	7.6 mi	13m
Saint Rose Road	5.2 mi	9m
St Rose Road	3.1 mi	5m
South Des Plaines River Road	1.8 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 55 — 123.8 mi, about 2h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Saint Rose, 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

59 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 55

Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Toward IL 4: Staunton, Lebanon

Turn left onto IL 4

10 mi · 15 min · IL 4

Turn left onto IL 143

7.6 mi · 13 min · IL 143

Turn left onto US 40; IL 143

0.5 mi · 50 sec · US Highway 40

Enter roundabout onto Poplar Street

16 ft · 0 sec · Poplar Street

Continue on Poplar Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Poplar Street

Enter roundabout onto Broadway

257 ft · 5 sec · Broadway

Continue on Broadway

1.0 mi · 1 min · Broadway

Enter roundabout onto St Rose Road

109 ft · 2 sec · St Rose Road

Continue on St Rose Road

3.1 mi · 5 min · St Rose Road

Continue on Saint Rose Road

5.2 mi · 9 min · Saint Rose Road

Arrive at destination

Saint Rose Road

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 146.3 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 2h 48m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.8 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 146.3 miles or 2h 48m 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 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Rose, 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 292.6 miles and 5h 43m.

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 123.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 146.3 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 2h 48m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IL

146 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.

Bloomington, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 146.3 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 123.8 miles.

Arriving in Saint Rose, IL

The final approach into Saint Rose, 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 Saint Rose, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$45.74 one way

$91.49 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 102 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$50.23	$100.45
premium	$4.89	$56.31	$112.62
diesel	$5.61	$64.60	$129.20

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

$46

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 102.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	87.8	1	$30.72	$14.04
Efficient EV	73.2	0	$25.60	$11.70
EV Truck/SUV	117	1	$40.96	$18.73

Gas CO2

102 kg

EV CO2

34 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 data refreshed 12 hours ago

Origin

Des Plaines, IL

Late night in Des Plaines on Wednesday

Local time

3:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 mph 34% chance Live forecast

Tornado Watch

Tornado Watch issued April 14 at 2:35PM CDT until April 14 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Tornado Watch

Tornado Watch issued April 14 at 2:33PM CDT until April 14 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Saint Rose, IL

Late night in Saint Rose on Wednesday

Local time

3:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

53°F

Bloomington, IL

146 mi in

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

5 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 43m 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 Saint Rose, IL covers 292.6 miles and takes about 5h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

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

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 146.3 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 $45.74 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.

Between Des Plaines, IL and Saint Rose, IL, road signs point toward St. Louis, Springfield and Lebanon.

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