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Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Frankfort Square, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 3m

Distance

45.1 mi

73 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 59m ★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Des Plaines, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Frankfort Square, IL, IL

Frankfort Square, IL

Quang Vuong

Trip Overview

The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Frankfort Square, IL covers 45.1 miles and takes about 1h 3m 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 $7.05 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 45.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 3m 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 3m drive with frequent turns across 45.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 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 Frankfort Square, IL is easy. At 1h 3m 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 Frankfort Square, 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
IL 50 South
Cicero Avenue
167th Street
I 57 South

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 Frankfort Square, IL.

1

Start on Henry Avenue

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Henry Avenue
2

Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · South Des Plaines River Road
3

Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 South: Indiana

0.4 mi · 55 sec · I 294 South: Indiana
4

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

11 mi · 14 min · Tri-State Tollway
5

Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

4.8 mi · 5 min · Tri-State Tollway
6

Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway
7

Continue on Mile-Long Bridge

0.9 mi · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge
8

Continue on Tri-State Tollway

8.5 mi · 10 min · Tri-State Tollway
9

Take the exit slight right toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
10

Keep slight left to continue on IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
11

Turn straight onto Cicero Avenue

4.9 mi · 7 min · Cicero Avenue
12

Turn left onto 167th Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · 167th Street
13

Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
14

Merge slight left

1.0 mi · 1 min
15

Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West: Iowa

0.5 mi · 45 sec · I 80 West: Iowa
16

Merge slight left

2.6 mi · 3 min
17

Take the exit slight right toward IL 43 South: Harlem Avenue

0.3 mi · 43 sec · IL 43 South: Harlem Avenue
18

Turn straight onto Harlem Avenue

2.1 mi · 3 min · Harlem Avenue
19

Turn right onto West Saint Francis Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Saint Francis Road
20

Turn left onto Frankfort Square Road

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Frankfort Square Road
21

Turn right onto Jamison Drive

509 ft · 22 sec · Jamison Drive
22

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 22.6 mi from Des Plaines, IL · 31m into the drive

Downtown Orland Park, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orland Park, IL

23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Orland Park, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Frankfort Square, IL

The final approach into Frankfort Square, 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

$7.05 one way

$14.10 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $7.74 $15.48
premium $4.89 $8.68 $17.36
diesel $5.61 $9.96 $19.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.5 0 $4.74 $2.16
Efficient EV 11.3 0 $3.95 $1.80
EV Truck/SUV 18 0 $6.31 $2.89

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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

Afternoon in Des Plaines on Thursday

Local time

4:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Frankfort Square, IL

Afternoon in Frankfort Square on Thursday

Local time

4:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°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

1 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 3m 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 Frankfort Square, IL covers 45.1 miles and takes about 1h 3m 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 22.6 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 $7.05 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 Frankfort Square, IL is easy. At 1h 3m 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 Frankfort Square, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Des Plaines, IL to Frankfort Square, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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