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Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Alden, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 14m

Distance

53.8 mi

87 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 9m ★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m

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

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Alden, IL, IL

Alden, IL

Mike Tyurin

Trip Overview

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Alden, IL covers 53.8 miles and takes about 1h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East Rand Road, US 12, Kenosha Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.9 miles on East Rand Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.41 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 53.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (30%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile.

Drive Character

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Alden, IL covers 53.8 miles and takes about 1h 14m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Rand Road is the longest continuous segment at about 22.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Alden, IL is easy. At 1h 14m with 30% 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): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 12 / Rand Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles (IL 173 / Kenosha Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

4 of 4 key points

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

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Des Plaines River Road

Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road

Navigation decision point

4
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 12 / Rand Road

Turn left onto US 12 / Rand Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
42.5 mi into trip | ~58m in | IL 173 / Kenosha Street

Turn left onto IL 173 / Kenosha Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
3
53.8 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | V12 / Alden Road

Turn left onto V12 / Alden Road

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Rand Road 22.9 mi 33m
US 12 16.3 mi 19m
Kenosha Street 11.2 mi 15m
Rand Road 2.2 mi 3m
South Des Plaines River Road 1 mi 2m
Henry Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Alden Road <0.1 mi —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East Rand Road — 22.9 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Henry Avenue

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Henry Avenue
2

Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Des Plaines River Road
3

Turn left onto US 12

2.2 mi · 3 min · Rand Road
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on US 12

23 mi · 33 min · East Rand Road
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on US 12; IL 59

1.9 mi · 2 min · US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on US 12; IL 59

12 mi · 14 min · US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
7

Continue on US 12

2.0 mi · 2 min · US 12
8

Turn left onto IL 173

11 mi · 15 min · Kenosha Street
Use the left lane.
9

Turn left onto V12

11 ft · 0 sec · Alden Road
10

Arrive at destination

V12

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 26.9 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 40m into the drive

Downtown Gilmer, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gilmer, IL

27 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

Palatine, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Volo, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Alden, IL

The final approach into Alden, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.41 one way

$16.82 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $9.23 $18.47
premium $4.89 $10.35 $20.71
diesel $5.61 $11.88 $23.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.1 0 $5.65 $2.58
Efficient EV 13.5 0 $4.71 $2.15
EV Truck/SUV 21.5 0 $7.53 $3.44

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Des Plaines, IL

Afternoon in Des Plaines on Thursday

Local time

1:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

NW 10 to 15 mph 44% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:30AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:30AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Alden, IL

Afternoon in Alden on Thursday

Local time

1:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Gilmer, IL

27 mi in

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

4 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

1h 14m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Alden, IL covers 53.8 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Rand Road, US 12, Kenosha Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.9 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 $8.41 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 Alden, IL is easy. At 1h 14m with 30% 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): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 12 / Rand Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles (IL 173 / Kenosha Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Des Plaines, IL to Alden, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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