Road Trips from Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines sets you up for a variety of day trips, whether you're looking for a quick spin or a longer haul. With options ranging from just over an hour to nearly five and a half hours, you can easily fit a drive into your weekend. Most routes offer a good drive score and access to parks, making them great for a scenic outing without needing an overnight stay. You've got options for shorter excursions into mixed highway and surface roads, or longer drives that lean more heavily on highways.
Total Routes
25
Shortest
3.9h
With Parks Nearby
25
Full-day getaway
Weekend trip
23 total in this range
Bruce, IL
4h 14m210.2 mi one way
Casey, IL
4h 35m232.4 mi one way
At 4.6 hours, Casey is a significant drive, mainly on highways with a top drive score of 9. This option provides a longer road trip experience with park access.
Marion, IL
5h 45m274.9 mi one way
This is one of the longest options at 5.8 hours, primarily a highway drive with a drive score of 9. It's a substantial trip that includes access to Pullman National Historical Park.
Olney, IL
5h 17m259.1 mi one way
Olney is a 5.3-hour drive, predominantly highway with a drive score of 9. This is a long-distance option that still provides access to Pullman National Historical Park.
Breese, IL
5h 39m300 mi one way
Breese is a 5.7-hour drive, almost entirely on highways with a drive score of 9. This extended trip offers park access.
Browse by Mood
Bruce, IL
4h 14m210.2 mi one way
Casey, IL
4h 35m232.4 mi one way
Marion, IL
5h 45m274.9 mi one way
Olney, IL
5h 17m259.1 mi one way
When to Go
Spring
Spring offers pleasant driving conditions for day trips to nearby parks like Pullman National Historical Park. The mostly flat terrain is ideal for exploring.
Summer
Summer is perfect for longer highway drives to destinations like Casey or Olney, with access to parks and enjoyable, mostly flat terrain.
Fall
The fall season provides excellent opportunities for drives with good scores, especially those on surface roads, leading to parks like Pullman National Historical Park.
Winter
Winter driving is best suited for shorter trips on mixed highway and surface roads, where terrain is less of a factor and park access is a bonus.
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Ready to plan?
Pick any destination above for full turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost, rest stops, and weather. Or visit the Des Plaines, IL city hub for all incoming and outgoing routes.