Origin
Homewood, IL
Night in Homewood on Thursday
Local time
11:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Homewood, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
57m
Distance
42.1 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Homewood, IL
Александр Ершков
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Homewood, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 42.1 miles and takes about 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tri-State Tollway, South Des Plaines River Road, Dixie Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.58 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 42.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 57m drive with frequent turns across 42.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 37 miles.
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 1.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 42.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 294 North, I 80 West: Tri-State Tollway
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 294 North, I 80 West: Tri-State Tollwa...
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
39 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward Touhy Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
7
39.7 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Touhy Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Touhy Avenue West
8
39.8 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Touhy Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 42B
Toward Touhy Avenue West
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 Homewood, IL to Des Plaines, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Touhy Avenue West along the way.
Touhy Avenue West
39.7 mi in
|
~52m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 37 mi | 46m |
| South Des Plaines River Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Dixie Highway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Governors Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Wood Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Henry Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Touhy Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 183rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 37 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Homewood, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on 183rd Street
65 ft
·
9 sec
·
183rd Street
2
Turn left onto Dixie Highway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Dixie Highway
3
Continue on Dixie Highway
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Dixie Highway
4
Continue on Dixie Highway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Dixie Highway
5
Turn right onto Governors Highway
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Governors Highway
6
Continue on Wood Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Wood Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 294 North, I 80 West: Tri-State Tollway
8
Merge onto I 80; I 294
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward Touhy Avenue West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 42B
Toward Touhy Avenue West
Use the right lane.
16
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
325 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Touhy Avenue
17
Turn slight right
339 ft
·
9 sec
18
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Des Plaines River Road
19
Turn left onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Henry Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21 mi from Homewood, IL · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21 miles from Homewood, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Des Plaines, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Des Plaines, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.58 one way
$13.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.23 | $14.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.10 | $16.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.30 | $18.59 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.22
Tri-state Tollway
(37 mi)
$2.22
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.89 | $2.69 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Des Plaines, IL
Night in Des Plaines on Thursday
Local time
11:12 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
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
2 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
57m 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 Homewood, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 42.1 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, South Des Plaines River Road, Dixie Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21 miles from Homewood, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.58 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.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 42.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Homewood, IL to Des Plaines, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Touhy Avenue West along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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