Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Crete, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 13m

Distance

49.5 mi

80 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min

4 AM

1h 8m ★

6 AM

1h 13m

8 AM

1h 25m

10 AM

1h 17m

12 PM

1h 16m

3 PM

1h 18m

5 PM

1h 24m

8 PM

1h 10m

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

Crete, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Crete, IL covers 49.5 miles and takes about 1h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Des Plaines River Road, I 294 South, Tri-State Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.74 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 49.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 13m 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.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 13m drive with frequent turns across 49.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

South Des Plaines River Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Crete, IL is easy. At 1h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Des Plaines, IL to Crete, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South Des Plaines River Road	—	—
I 294 South	—	—
Tri-State Tollway	—	—
Mile-Long Bridge	—	—
Hazel Crest	—	—
Dixie Highway	—	—
Chicago Road	—	—
Vincennes Boulevard	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South Des Plaines River Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 South: Indiana

0.4 mi · 55 sec · I 294 South: Indiana

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

11 mi · 14 min · Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway

Continue on Mile-Long Bridge

0.9 mi · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge

Continue on Tri-State Tollway

15 mi · 18 min · Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

0.9 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

Take the exit slight right toward Hazel Crest, Homewood

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Hazel Crest, Homewood

Merge slight right

0.3 mi · 26 sec

Take the exit slight right toward Dixie Highway

0.3 mi · 25 sec · Dixie Highway

Turn right onto Dixie Highway

0.9 mi · 1 min · Dixie Highway

Continue on Dixie Highway

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Dixie Highway

At the end of the road, turn right onto Dixie Highway

4.1 mi · 8 min · Dixie Highway

At the end of the road, turn right onto Chicago Road

3.4 mi · 8 min · Chicago Road

Continue on Vincennes Boulevard

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Vincennes Boulevard

Continue on Main Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 24.8 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 36m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orland Park, IL

25 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

Elmhurst, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Orland Park, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.8 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Crete, IL

The final approach into Crete, 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

$7.74 one way

$15.48 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$8.50	$16.99
premium	$4.89	$9.53	$19.05
diesel	$5.61	$10.93	$21.86

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	14.9	$5.20	$2.38
Efficient EV	12.4	$4.33	$1.98
EV Truck/SUV	19.8	$6.93	$3.17

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Des Plaines, IL

Morning in Des Plaines on Thursday

Local time

10:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Crete, IL

Morning in Crete on Thursday

Local time

10:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°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

20 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

1h 13m 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 Crete, IL covers 49.5 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South Des Plaines River Road, I 294 South, Tri-State Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 24.8 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 $7.74 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 Crete, IL is easy. At 1h 13m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Des Plaines, IL to Crete, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Des Plaines, IL to Crete, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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