Origin
Winnetka, IL
Night in Winnetka on Tuesday
Local time
10:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winnetka, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
24m
Distance
13.1 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Winnetka, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 13.1-mile drive from Winnetka, IL to Des Plaines, IL is a quick 24-minute trip that stays entirely within the Midwest region. It's an ideal candidate for a single-day adventure, requiring no overnight stays. You'll primarily navigate using Golf Road, Willow Road, and Waukegan Road, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this short journey is around $2, making it a very budget-friendly option. The overall feel is that of a local, turn-heavy drive, perfect for a short excursion.
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
6.5 miles from Winnetka, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 13.1-mile route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 4.6 miles along Golf Road. This means you'll be making frequent turns and navigating surface streets for most of your journey. The character of the drive is consistent, focusing on local roads rather than open highway cruising. You'll experience a steady pace of suburban travel with numerous intersections.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Golf Road is the longest continuous segment at about 4.6 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Locust Road.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 13.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.3 miles (Locust Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Willow Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (Wagner Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Locust Road
Turn left onto Locust Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Willow Road
At end of road, turn right onto Willow Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Wagner Road
Turn left onto Wagner Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
6.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
IL 58 / Golf Road
Turn right onto IL 58 / Golf Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
11.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 45 / North Des Plaines River Road
Turn left onto US 45 / North Des Plaines River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golf Road | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| Willow Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Waukegan Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Wagner Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| North Des Plaines River Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Lake Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Locust Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Pine Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Golf Road
— 4.6 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winnetka, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on Pine Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Pine Street
2
Turn left onto Locust Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Locust Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto Willow Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Willow Road
4
Turn left onto Wagner Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Wagner Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto East Lake Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Lake Avenue
6
Turn left onto IL 43
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Waukegan Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto IL 58
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Golf Road
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 45
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Des Plaines River Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Henry Avenue
10
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 24-minute duration, this route offers great flexibility for departure times; you can easily leave whenever it suits you. With only 13.1 miles and no highway driving, you won't need to plan for extensive stops. The low fuel cost of approximately $2 means you can likely complete the trip on a nearly empty tank if needed, but it’s always wise to start with at least half. Pay close attention to your navigation, especially for the frequent turns required on Golf Road, Willow Road, and Waukegan Road, to ensure a smooth transition between these main thoroughfares.
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 6.5 miles from Winnetka, IL, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.6 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 13.1 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.5 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 21m
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 Winnetka, 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 Winnetka, IL
This is one driving day of about 13.1 miles and 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Winnetka, 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 Golf Road for about 4.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.5 mi from Winnetka, IL · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.5 miles from Winnetka, 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
$2.05 one way
$4.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.25 | $4.50 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.52 | $5.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.89 | $5.78 |
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: 4.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.38 | $0.63 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
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.
Destination
Des Plaines, IL
Night in Des Plaines on Tuesday
Local time
10:31 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
4 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
24m 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 Winnetka, IL to Des Plaines, IL covers 13.1 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Golf Road, Willow Road, Waukegan Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.5 miles from Winnetka, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.05 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 13.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.3 miles (Locust Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Willow Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (Wagner Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Winnetka, IL to Des Plaines, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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