Origin
Kenwood, IL
Night in Kenwood on Thursday
Local time
10:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kenwood, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
41m
Distance
25.2 mi
41 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kenwood, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Kenwood, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 25.2 miles and takes about 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kennedy Expressway, Dan Ryan Expressway (Local), North Caldwell Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.2 miles on Kennedy Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 41m. Total distance: 25.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Kenwood, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 25.2 miles and takes about 41m, 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 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kennedy Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 8.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near East 35th Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 25.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 2 miles (East 35th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (South LaSalle Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
East 35th Street
Turn left onto East 35th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
South LaSalle Street
Turn right onto South LaSalle Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 West, I 94 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
Merge onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
16.9 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41A
Toward US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Local) | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| North Caldwell Avenue | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| West Touhy Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Edens Expressway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Busse Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Cottage Grove Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Oakton Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Kennedy Expressway
— 8.2 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenwood, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on East 47th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 47th Street
2
Turn right onto South Cottage Grove Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cottage Grove Avenue
3
Turn left onto East 35th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East 35th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on West 35th Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 35th Street
5
Turn right onto South LaSalle Street
128 ft
·
3 sec
·
South LaSalle Street
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto I 90; I 94
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 94
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Edens Expressway
Toward I 94 West: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 41A
Toward US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight right onto US 14
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
North Caldwell Avenue
12
Turn left onto West Touhy Avenue
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Touhy Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Turn slight right onto Busse Highway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Busse Highway
14
Turn slight left onto Oakton Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Oakton Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Des Plaines River Road
16
Turn left onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Henry Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.94 one way
$7.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.33 | $8.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.85 | $9.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.56 | $11.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.65 | $1.21 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.61 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
10:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
10 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
41m 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 Kenwood, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 25.2 miles and takes about 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kennedy Expressway, Dan Ryan Expressway (Local), North Caldwell Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.6 miles from Kenwood, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.94 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 25.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (East 35th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (South LaSalle Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Kenwood, IL to Des Plaines, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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