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Trip from Lake Forest, IL to Des Plaines, IL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

32m

Distance

20.7 mi

33 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 29m ★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m

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 Lake County, Illinois, United States

Lake Forest, IL

Wikimedia Commons

city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Des Plaines, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Lake Forest, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 20.7 miles and takes about 32m 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, North Des Plaines River Road, East Deerpath for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13 miles on Tri-State Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.24 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

10.4 miles from Lake Forest, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 32m drive with frequent turns across 20.7 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.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 13 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 2.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 20.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
2.2 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the exit toward IL 60

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

Use the right lane. Toward IL 60
6
4.3 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the ramp toward I 94 Toll East: Indiana

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 94 Toll East: Indiana
8
10.5 mi into trip | ~16m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
7
17.6 mi into trip | ~25m in

Take the exit toward IL 58: Golf Road

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 45 Toward IL 58: Golf Road
6
19.1 mi into trip | ~28m in | US 45 / North Des Plaines River Road

Turn left onto US 45 / North Des Plaines River Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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 Lake Forest, IL to Des Plaines, IL, road signs begin pointing toward O'hare along the way.

O'hare

10.5 mi in | ~16m | via I 294

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Tri-State Tollway 13 mi 15m
North Des Plaines River Road 1.5 mi 2m
East Deerpath 1 mi 2m
Townline Road 1 mi 1m
East Golf Road 1 mi 1m
East Townline Road 0.7 mi 1m
W Kennedy Road 0.4 mi <1m
North Green Bay Road 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Tri-State Tollway — 13 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Griffith Road

71 ft · 3 sec · Griffith Road
2

Turn straight onto East Woodland Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Woodland Road
3

At end of road, turn left onto North Green Bay Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Green Bay Road
4

Turn right onto East Deerpath

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Deerpath
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Toward Deerpath Road
6

Merge onto US 41

0.2 mi · 12 sec · South Skokie Highway
7

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Toward IL 60 Use the right lane.
8

Continue on IL 60

0.4 mi · 45 sec · W Kennedy Road
9

Continue on IL 60

1.0 mi · 1 min · Townline Road
10

Continue on East Townline Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Townline Road
Use the left lane.
11

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 94 Toll East: Indiana Use the left lane.
12

Merge onto I 94

5.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294

7.2 mi · 8 min · Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare Use the slight right lane.
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 45 Toward IL 58: Golf Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Turn left onto North East River Road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · North East River Road
Use the left lane.
16

Turn right onto IL 58

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Golf Road
Use the right lane.
17

Turn left onto US 45

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Des Plaines River Road
Use the left lane.
18

Turn right onto Henry Avenue

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Henry Avenue
19

Arrive at destination

Henry 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 10.4 miles from Lake Forest, IL, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13 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 20.7 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 10.4 miles or 16m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Des Plaines, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lake Forest, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lake Forest, IL

This is one driving day of about 20.7 miles and 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lake Forest, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 13 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 10.4 mi from Lake Forest, IL · 16m into the drive

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palatine, IL

10 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

Palatine, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Palatine, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 10.4 miles from Lake Forest, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Des Plaines, IL

The final approach into Des Plaines, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Des Plaines, IL.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.24 one way

$6.47 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $3.55 $7.11
premium $4.89 $3.98 $7.97
diesel $5.61 $4.57 $9.14

Estimated Tolls: $0.78

Tri-state Tollway (13 mi) $0.78

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

$3

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.2 0 $2.17 $0.99
Efficient EV 5.2 0 $1.81 $0.83
EV Truck/SUV 8.3 0 $2.90 $1.32

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Lake Forest, IL

Late night in Lake Forest on Wednesday

Local time

5:05 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 mph 35% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 2:54PM EDT until April 14 at 4:46AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:50AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Destination

Des Plaines, IL

Late night in Des Plaines on Wednesday

Local time

5:05 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 mph 35% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 2:54PM EDT until April 14 at 4:46AM EDT by NWS Indianapolis IN

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:50AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

32m 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 Lake Forest, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 20.7 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, North Des Plaines River Road, East Deerpath. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.4 miles from Lake Forest, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.24 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 20.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Lake Forest, IL to Des Plaines, IL, road signs begin pointing toward O'hare along the way.

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