Trip from Uptown, IL to Des Plaines, IL

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

27m

Distance

14.4 mi

23 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min

4 AM

0h 25m ★

6 AM

0h 27m

8 AM

0h 32m

10 AM

0h 29m

12 PM

0h 28m

3 PM

0h 29m

5 PM

0h 32m

8 PM

0h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Uptown, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 14.4 miles and takes about 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Caldwell Avenue, West Touhy Avenue, West Peterson Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 2.5 miles on North Caldwell Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.25 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

7.2 miles from Uptown, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 27m drive with frequent turns across 14.4 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.

North Caldwell Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 2.5 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Sheridan Road.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 14.4 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 0.1 miles (North Sheridan Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West Lawrence Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (North Western Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Sheridan Road

Turn right onto North Sheridan Road

Navigation decision point

4

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | West Lawrence Avenue

Turn left onto West Lawrence Avenue

Navigation decision point

3

2.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | North Western Avenue

Turn right onto North Western Avenue

Navigation decision point

6

2.2 mi into trip | ~5m in | North Lincoln Avenue

Turn left onto North Lincoln Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

5

8.8 mi into trip | ~16m in | West Touhy Avenue

Turn left onto West Touhy Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North Caldwell Avenue	2.5 mi	3m
West Touhy Avenue	2.3 mi	4m
West Peterson Avenue	2.2 mi	3m
North Lincoln Avenue	1.8 mi	3m
West Lawrence Avenue	1.8 mi	4m
Busse Highway	1.5 mi	2m
Oakton Street	1.1 mi	2m
South Des Plaines River Road	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: North Caldwell Avenue — 2.5 mi, about 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Uptown, IL and Des Plaines, IL.

1

Start on this road

181 ft · 13 sec · this road

2

Continue on West Eastwood Avenue

509 ft · 18 sec · West Eastwood Avenue

3

Turn right onto North Sheridan Road

0.2 mi · 37 sec · North Sheridan Road

4

Turn left onto West Lawrence Avenue

1.8 mi · 4 min · West Lawrence Avenue

5

Turn right onto North Western Avenue

0.1 mi · 20 sec · North Western Avenue

6

Turn left onto North Lincoln Avenue

1.8 mi · 3 min · North Lincoln Avenue

Use the left lane.

7

Turn slight left onto US 14

2.2 mi · 3 min · West Peterson Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

8

Continue on US 14

2.5 mi · 3 min · North Caldwell Avenue

9

Turn left onto West Touhy Avenue

2.3 mi · 4 min · West Touhy Avenue

Use the left lane.

10

Turn slight right onto Busse Highway

1.5 mi · 2 min · Busse Highway

11

Turn slight left onto Oakton Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · Oakton Street

Use the left lane.

12

Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Des Plaines River Road

13

Turn left onto Henry Avenue

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Henry Avenue

14

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 7.2 miles from Uptown, IL, or about 13m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 2.5 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 14.4 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 7.2 miles or 13m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 22m

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 Uptown, 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 Uptown, IL

This is one driving day of about 14.4 miles and 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Uptown, 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 North Caldwell Avenue for about 2.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 7.2 mi from Uptown, IL · 13m into the drive

suburban city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Evanston, IL

7 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

Palatine, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Evanston, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 7.2 miles from Uptown, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

19 mi from route ~47 min detour Free

Caution: Road Construction Near the Park

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.25 one way

$4.50 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$2.47	$4.94
premium	$4.89	$2.77	$5.54
diesel	$5.61	$3.18	$6.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	4.3	$1.51	$0.69
Efficient EV	3.6	$1.26	$0.58
EV Truck/SUV	5.8	$2.02	$0.92

Gas CO2

5 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (60% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Uptown, IL

Evening in Uptown on Tuesday

Local time

6:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Des Plaines, IL

Evening in Des Plaines on Tuesday

Local time

6:39 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

27 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

27m 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 Uptown, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 14.4 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Caldwell Avenue, West Touhy Avenue, West Peterson Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 7.2 miles from Uptown, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.25 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 14.4 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 0.1 miles (North Sheridan Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West Lawrence Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (North Western Avenue): Navigation decision point.

The route from Uptown, IL to Des Plaines, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Uptown, IL to Des Plaines, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Des Plaines, IL

National Parks Near This Route

Pullman National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Uptown, IL

Des Plaines, IL

Same local time

27 degrees cooler at arrival

27m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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