Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Cortland, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 17m

Distance

55.2 mi

89 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min

4 AM

1h 12m ★

6 AM

1h 18m

8 AM

1h 30m

10 AM

1h 22m

12 PM

1h 21m

3 PM

1h 23m

5 PM

1h 29m

8 PM

1h 14m

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

Cortland, IL

Mike Tyurin

Trip Overview

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Cortland, IL covers 55.2 miles and takes about 1h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Lincoln Highway, Randall Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.6 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.63 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

27.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 17m drive with frequent turns across 55.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.6 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

908 ft 632 ft

Total Climb

428 ft

Total Descent

159 ft

Highest Point

908 ft

~43.3 mi in

Elevation Range

276 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East Algonquin Road.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.2 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East Algonquin Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Algonquin Road

At end of road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road

Navigation decision point

3.8 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the ramp toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford

4.4 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

24.9 mi into trip | ~31m in

Take the exit toward Randall Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 52 Toward Randall Road

25.2 mi into trip | ~32m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Randall Road, Elgin

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

Use the left lane. Toward Randall Road, Elgin

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

On the drive from Des Plaines, IL to Cortland, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elgin along the way.

Elgin

25.2 mi in | ~32m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway	20.6 mi	22m
Lincoln Highway	14.7 mi	20m
Randall Road	8.8 mi	14m
Bolcum Road	3.2 mi	5m
LaFox Road	2.3 mi	4m
East Oakton Street	1.4 mi	2m
West Oakton Street	1 mi	1m
East Algonquin Road	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — 20.6 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Henry Avenue

262 ft · 16 sec · Henry Avenue

Turn left onto White Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · White Street

At end of road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Algonquin Road

Turn left onto US 12; US 45

0.5 mi · 51 sec · Lee Street

Turn right onto East Oakton Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · East Oakton Street

Continue on West Oakton Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Oakton Street

Turn left onto South Elmhurst Road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · South Elmhurst Road

Use the left / uturn lanes.

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford Use the right lane.

Merge onto I 90

21 mi · 22 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Exit 52 Toward Randall Road Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

222 ft · 7 sec

Toward Randall Road, Elgin Use the left lane.

Turn left onto CR 34

8.8 mi · 14 min · Randall Road

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Bolcum Road

3.2 mi · 5 min · Bolcum Road

Enter roundabout onto CR 2

178 ft · 3 sec · Burlington Road

Continue on CR 2

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Burlington Road

Continue on CR 81

2.3 mi · 4 min · LaFox Road

Turn right onto IL 38

15 mi · 20 min · Lincoln Highway

Turn right onto South Somonauk Road

0.5 mi · 50 sec · South Somonauk Road

Turn right onto East Chestnut Avenue

20 ft · 0 sec · East Chestnut Avenue

Arrive at destination

East Chestnut Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 27.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 36m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.6 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 12 miles or 17m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 27.6 miles or 36m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cortland, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Des Plaines, IL

This is one driving day of about 55.2 miles and 1h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from Des Plaines, IL.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 20.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 27.6 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 36m into the drive

village in Kane County, Illinois, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

South Elgin, IL

28 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

Rolling Meadows, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Elgin, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cortland, IL

The final approach into Cortland, 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

$8.63 one way

$17.26 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$9.48	$18.95
premium	$4.89	$10.62	$21.25
diesel	$5.61	$12.19	$24.37

Estimated Tolls: $1.44

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (20.6 mi) $1.44

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

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	16.6	$5.80	$2.65
Efficient EV	13.8	$4.83	$2.21
EV Truck/SUV	22.1	$7.73	$3.53

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 13, 2026

Origin

Des Plaines, IL

Late night in Des Plaines on Thursday

Local time

12:18 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Mostly Cloudy

WSW 15 mph 7% 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

Destination

Cortland, IL

Late night in Cortland on Thursday

Local time

12:18 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°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

13 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 17m 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 Cortland, IL covers 55.2 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Lincoln Highway, Randall Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 27.6 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 $8.63 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.

On the drive from Des Plaines, IL to Cortland, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Elgin along the way.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 632 ft to 908 ft elevation with about 428 ft of total climbing.

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