Origin
North Chicago, IL
Morning in North Chicago on Sunday
Local time
11:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Chicago, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Drive Time
34m
Distance
26.3 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from North Chicago, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 26.3 miles and takes about 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 18th Street, Sheridan Road, Bobby E for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.99 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
13.1 miles from North Chicago, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 34m drive with frequent turns across 26.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
18th Street 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from North Chicago, IL to Des Plaines, IL is easy. At 34m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from North Chicago, IL to Des Plaines, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 18th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sheridan Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bobby E | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Buckley Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tri-State Tollway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IL 58 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North East River Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
18th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Chicago, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on Fellows Place
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Fellows Place
2
Turn right onto 18th Street
154 ft
·
10 sec
·
18th Street
3
Turn right onto Sheridan Road
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
Sheridan Road
4
Continue on Bobby E. Thompson Expressway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Bobby E. Thompson Expressway
5
Turn right onto Buckley Road
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Buckley Road
6
Take the ramp slight left toward I 94 Toll East: Chicago
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 94 Toll East: Chicago
7
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
8
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
9
Take the exit slight right toward IL 58: Golf Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 58: Golf Road
10
Turn left onto North East River Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North East River Road
11
Turn right onto East Golf Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Golf Road
12
Turn left onto North Des Plaines River Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Des Plaines River Road
13
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Henry Avenue
14
Arrive at your destination
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 13.1 miles from North Chicago, IL, or about 17m 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 26.3 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.1 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
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 North Chicago, 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 North Chicago, IL
This is one driving day of about 26.3 miles and 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from North Chicago, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.1 mi from North Chicago, IL · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 26.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.1 miles from North Chicago, 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
$3.99 one way
$7.99 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $4.40 | $8.81 |
| premium | $4.80 | $4.96 | $9.93 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.84 | $11.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.76 | $1.26 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
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
Morning in Des Plaines on Sunday
Local time
11:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
43°F
Waukegan, IL
13 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
3 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
34m 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 North Chicago, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 26.3 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 18th Street, Sheridan Road, Bobby E. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.1 miles from North Chicago, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.99 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 North Chicago, IL to Des Plaines, IL is easy. At 34m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from North Chicago, IL to Des Plaines, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from North Chicago, IL to Des Plaines, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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