Origin
Skokie, IL
Evening in Skokie on Sunday
Local time
5:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Skokie, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Drive Time
19m
Distance
9.6 mi
15 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 18m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Skokie, IL
Mr Alex Photography
Des Plaines, IL
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Skokie, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 9.6 miles and takes about 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Oakton Street, West Touhy Avenue, Busse Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 2.6 miles on Oakton Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.46 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
4.8 miles from Skokie, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 19m drive with frequent turns across 9.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Oakton Street is the longest continuous segment at about 2.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 9.6 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (Kostner Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (Oakton Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Continue onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Kostner Avenue
Turn left onto Kostner Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Oakton Street
Turn right onto Oakton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Howard Street
Turn right onto Howard Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
North Lehigh Avenue
Turn left onto North Lehigh Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Oakton Street | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| West Touhy Avenue | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Busse Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Gross Point Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Des Plaines River Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Kostner Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Gross Point Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Oakton Street
— 2.6 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Skokie, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on Main Street
156 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
2
Continue on Main Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto Kostner Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Kostner Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto Oakton Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Oakton Street
Use the none lane.
5
Turn slight left onto Gross Point Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Gross Point Road
Use the none lane.
6
Turn straight onto New Gross Point Road
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
New Gross Point Road
7
Turn right onto Howard Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Howard Street
Use the none lane.
8
Turn left onto North Lehigh Avenue
120 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Lehigh Avenue
9
Turn right onto West Gross Point Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Gross Point Road
Use the none lane.
10
Turn slight right onto West Touhy Avenue
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
West Touhy Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Turn slight right onto Busse Highway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Busse Highway
Use the none lane.
12
Turn slight left onto Oakton Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Oakton Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Des Plaines River Road
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Henry Avenue
15
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 4.8 miles from Skokie, IL, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 2.6 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 9.6 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4.8 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 16m
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 Skokie, 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 Skokie, IL
This is one driving day of about 9.6 miles and 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Skokie, 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 Oakton Street for about 2.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4.8 mi from Skokie, IL · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
5 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 9.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 4.8 miles from Skokie, 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
$1.46 one way
$2.92 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $1.61 | $3.21 |
| premium | $4.80 | $1.81 | $3.62 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.13 | $4.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.01 | $0.46 |
| Efficient EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.84 | $0.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.34 | $0.61 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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 Sunday
Local time
5:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
19m 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 Skokie, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 9.6 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Oakton Street, West Touhy Avenue, Busse Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.8 miles from Skokie, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.46 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 9.6 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (Kostner Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (Oakton Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Skokie, IL to Des Plaines, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Des Plaines, IL
More trips to Des Plaines, IL
Explore more options from Skokie, IL or browse trips ending in Des Plaines, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Skokie, IL or Des Plaines, IL on MapSof.net.