Origin
Long Lake, IL
Late night in Long Lake on Friday
Local time
1:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Long Lake, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
50m
Distance
32.6 mi
52 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Lake, IL
Sean Ewing
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Long Lake, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 32.6 miles and takes about 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 12, West Big Hollow Road, South Des Plaines River Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29 miles on US 12. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 32.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 50m highway drive covering 32.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 12 and West Big Hollow Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 29 miles on US 12.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 12 is the longest continuous segment at about 29 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and West Big Hollow Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Augustana Avenue.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Long Lake, IL to Des Plaines, IL is easy. At 50m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Augustana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 134 / West Big Hollow Road): Navigation decision point; at 32.5 miles (Henry Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Augustana Avenue
Turn left onto North Augustana Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IL 134 / West Big Hollow Road
Turn right onto IL 134 / West Big Hollow Road
Navigation decision point
4
32.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
Henry Avenue
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 29 mi | 42m |
| West Big Hollow Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| South Des Plaines River Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Augustana Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Rock Island Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Henry Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 29 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Lake, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on North Rock Island Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Rock Island Street
2
Turn left onto North Augustana Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Augustana Avenue
3
Continue on North Augustana Avenue
177 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Augustana Avenue
4
Turn right onto IL 134
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Big Hollow Road
5
Turn left onto US 12; IL 59
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12; IL 59
6
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
8
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
9
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
10
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
11
Continue on US 12; IL 59
23 mi
·
35 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto US 12; US 45
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Des Plaines River Road
13
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Henry Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.3 mi from Long Lake, IL · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.3 miles from Long Lake, 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
$5.10 one way
$10.19 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.60 | $11.19 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.27 | $12.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.20 | $14.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.85 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.09 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Late night in Des Plaines on Friday
Local time
1:29 AM
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
16 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
50m 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 Long Lake, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 32.6 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 12, West Big Hollow Road, South Des Plaines River Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.3 miles from Long Lake, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.10 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 Long Lake, IL to Des Plaines, IL is easy. At 50m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Augustana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IL 134 / West Big Hollow Road): Navigation decision point; at 32.5 miles (Henry Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Long Lake, 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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