Origin
Des Plaines, IL
Evening in Des Plaines on Thursday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Summit, IL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
37m
Distance
18.7 mi
30 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Summit, IL
Rodrigo Contreras Elvira
Trip Overview
The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Summit, IL covers 18.7 miles and takes about 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North 1st Avenue, Des Plaines River Road, South Des Plaines River Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.6 miles on North 1st Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.92 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 18.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 37m drive with frequent turns across 18.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North 1st Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 9.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Des Plaines River Road.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Summit, IL is easy. At 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 8.8 miles (IL 171 / North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.4 miles (IL 171 / South Archer Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese 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.
3
8.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
IL 171 / North 1st Avenue
Turn straight onto IL 171 / North 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
18.4 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
IL 171 / South Archer Avenue
Turn right onto IL 171 / South Archer Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North 1st Avenue | 9.6 mi | 19m |
| Des Plaines River Road | 4.3 mi | 8m |
| South Des Plaines River Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| North River Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| South Archer Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Henry Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North 1st Avenue
— 9.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Summit, IL.
1
Start on Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Henry Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
South Des Plaines River Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on North River Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North River Road
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on Des Plaines River Road
4.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Des Plaines River Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn straight onto IL 171
9.6 mi
·
19 min
·
North 1st Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn right onto IL 171
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
South Archer Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Arrive at destination
IL 171
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.92 one way
$5.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.21 | $6.42 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.60 | $7.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.13 | $8.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.64 | $0.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.62 | $1.20 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Summit, IL
Evening in Summit on Thursday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°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
16 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
37m 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 Summit, IL covers 18.7 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North 1st Avenue, Des Plaines River Road, South Des Plaines River Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.3 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 $2.92 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.
The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Summit, IL is easy. At 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Des Plaines River Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (IL 171 / North 1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.4 miles (IL 171 / South Archer Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Des Plaines, IL to Summit, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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