Origin
New Baden, IL
Evening in New Baden on Sunday
Local time
6:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Baden, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Drive Time
4h 45m
Distance
297.8 mi
479 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 32m
★
6 AM
4h 46m
8 AM
5h 13m
10 AM
4h 55m
12 PM
4h 52m
3 PM
4h 56m
5 PM
5h 11m
8 PM
4h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Plaines, IL
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from New Baden, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 297.8 miles and takes about 4h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IL 4, I 55 North, I 294 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.23 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
148.9 miles from New Baden, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 45m drive with frequent turns across 297.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IL 4 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 45m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from New Baden, IL to Des Plaines, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 4 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 55 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 294 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 294 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tri-State Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Touhy Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Touhy Avenue West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Touhy Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
IL 4
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Baden, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on West Hanover Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Hanover Street
2
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
3
Merge slight left
4.0 mi
·
4 min
4
Take the exit slight right toward IL 4
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
IL 4
5
Keep slight right to continue on IL 4
180 ft
·
3 sec
·
IL 4
6
Turn straight
26 mi
·
38 min
7
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
8
Merge slight left
93 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 55 North: Chicago
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
121 mi
·
2 hr 14 min
·
I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 294 North: Wisconsin
13
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
14
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
15
Take the exit slight right toward Touhy Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Touhy Avenue
16
Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Touhy Avenue
17
Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue West
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Touhy Avenue West
18
Keep slight right to continue on Touhy Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Touhy Avenue West
19
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
325 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Touhy Avenue
20
Turn slight right
338 ft
·
9 sec
21
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Des Plaines River Road
22
Turn left onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Henry Avenue
23
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 148.9 miles from New Baden, IL, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.9 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 54m
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 New Baden, 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 New Baden, IL
This is one driving day of about 297.8 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from New Baden, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148.9 mi from New Baden, IL · 2h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 148.9 miles from New Baden, 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
$45.23 one way
$90.47 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $49.86 | $99.73 |
| premium | $4.80 | $56.22 | $112.44 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $66.16 | $132.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.3 | 1 | $31.27 | $14.29 |
| Efficient EV | 74.5 | 0 | $26.06 | $11.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 119.1 | 1 | $41.69 | $19.06 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Evening in Des Plaines on Sunday
Local time
6:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
53°F
Bloomington, IL
149 mi in
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
12 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
4h 45m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from New Baden, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 297.8 miles and takes about 4h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IL 4, I 55 North, I 294. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 148.9 miles from New Baden, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.23 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 45m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from New Baden, IL to Des Plaines, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from New Baden, IL to Des Plaines, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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