Origin
Richmond, IL
Evening in Richmond on Friday
Local time
8:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richmond, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
42.3 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richmond, IL
Kelly
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Richmond, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 42.3 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 12, Main Street, South Des Plaines River Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.5 miles on US 12. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.61 one way before food or hotel costs.
About the Cities
Arriving in Des Plaines, IL
Full guide →Des Plaines is in Chicagoland. It is an inner-ring, northwest suburb of Chicago with two distinct portions: a suburban northern portion reminiscient of other, nearby northwest suburbs (including Niles, Park Ridge, and Mount Prospect), as well as a built-up southern portion with the businesses, hotels, and other amenities of the O'Hare Airport corridor (much like Rosemont, Chicago's O'Hare neighborhood, and Elk Grove Village).
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 42.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 59m highway drive covering 42.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 12 and Main Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 39.5 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 12 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 39.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and Main Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 12 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Richmond, IL to Des Plaines, IL is easy. At 59m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 12 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (US 12): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.2 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.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 12 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 12 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
1.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 12
Continue onto US 12
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
42.2 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
Henry Avenue
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 39.5 mi | 54m |
| Main Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| South Des Plaines River Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Henry Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Broadway Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 39.5 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on Broadway Street
46 ft
·
7 sec
·
Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto US 12
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 12
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 12
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
6
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
7
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
8
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
9
Continue on US 12; IL 59
23 mi
·
35 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto US 12; US 45
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Des Plaines River Road
11
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Henry Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.1 mi from Richmond, IL · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.1 miles from Richmond, 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
$6.61 one way
$13.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.26 | $14.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.14 | $16.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.34 | $18.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.92 | $2.71 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Evening in Des Plaines on Friday
Local time
8:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Gilmer, IL
21 mi in
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
18 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
59m 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 Richmond, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 42.3 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 12, Main Street, 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 21.1 miles from Richmond, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.61 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 Richmond, IL to Des Plaines, IL is easy. At 59m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 12 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (US 12): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.2 miles (Henry Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Richmond, 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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