Origin
Waterman, IL
Late night in Waterman on Thursday
Local time
12:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterman, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
61 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterman, IL
정규송 Nui MALAMA
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waterman, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 61 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Lincoln Highway, West Lincoln Street, West Lincoln Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.54 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
30.5 miles from Waterman, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 9m drive with frequent turns across 61 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Lincoln Highway 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 Waterman, IL to Des Plaines, IL is easy. At 1h 9m 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 Waterman, IL to Des Plaines, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Lincoln Highway | — | — |
| West Lincoln Street | — | — |
| West Lincoln Avenue | — | — |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | — | — |
| I 294 North | — | — |
| I 294 | — | — |
| Tri-State Tollway | — | — |
| Touhy Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Lincoln Highway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterman, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on North Elm Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Elm Street
2
Turn left onto West Lincoln Highway
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Lincoln Highway
3
Continue on West Lincoln Street
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
West Lincoln Street
4
Continue on West Lincoln Avenue
11 mi
·
17 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
5
Continue straight
25 mi
·
31 min
6
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
9
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
9.9 mi
·
13 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
10
Take the exit slight right toward Touhy Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Touhy Avenue
11
Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Touhy Avenue
12
Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue West
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Touhy Avenue West
13
Keep slight right to continue on Touhy Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Touhy Avenue West
14
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
325 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Touhy Avenue
15
Turn slight right
338 ft
·
9 sec
16
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Des Plaines River Road
17
Turn left onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Henry Avenue
18
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 30.5 miles from Waterman, IL, or about 34m 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 13 miles or 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.5 miles or 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 59m
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 Waterman, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waterman, IL
This is one driving day of about 61 miles and 1h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Waterman, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.5 mi from Waterman, IL · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.5 miles from Waterman, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.54 one way
$19.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.47 | $20.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.74 | $23.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.47 | $26.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.34 | $2.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.54 | $3.90 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Late night in Des Plaines on Thursday
Local time
12:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Aurora, IL
31 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
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
1h 9m 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 Waterman, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 61 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Lincoln Highway, West Lincoln Street, West Lincoln Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.5 miles from Waterman, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.54 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 Waterman, IL to Des Plaines, IL is easy. At 1h 9m 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 Waterman, IL to Des Plaines, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waterman, 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 Waterman, IL or browse trips ending in Des Plaines, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Waterman, IL or Des Plaines, IL on MapSof.net.