Origin
Des Plaines, IL
Morning in Des Plaines on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Plaines, IL to Fox, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
56.5 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Fox, IL
Steffi Wacker
Trip Overview
Des Plaines to Fox is 56.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 17 minutes via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest's familiar landscape. It's a relatively short drive, mostly on well-maintained toll roads, making it a straightforward option for a quick excursion. You'll find the route efficient for getting from point A to point B without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 25.8 mi | 31m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 10.5 mi | 14m |
| Eldamain Road | 6.5 mi | 10m |
| IL 56 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| United States Route 30 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Galena Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| South Des Plaines River Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| North Bridge Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 25.8 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Fox, IL.
1
Start on Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Henry Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Des Plaines River Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 294 South: Indiana
4
Merge onto I 294
8.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto I 294
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on I 294
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Exit 15A
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 31A
Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
25 mi
·
30 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 56
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
IL 56
Exit 113
Toward IL 56 West: Sugar Grove
Use the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 30 East, IL 47: Sugar Grove, Elburn
Use the right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward IL 47 South, US 30 East: Sugar Grove
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto IL 47
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Illinois Route 47
15
Continue on US 30; IL 47
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
United States Route 30
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on North Bridge Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Bridge Street
17
Turn right onto Galena Road
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Galena Road
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto Eldamain Road
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Eldamain Road
Use the left lane.
19
Enter roundabout onto Eldamain Road
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
Eldamain Road
20
Continue on Eldamain Road
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Eldamain Road
21
Turn left onto West Fox Road
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Fox Road
22
Arrive at destination
West Fox Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from Des Plaines, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 12.2 and 43.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
12.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31A
Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
8
14.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
8
39.1 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
IL 56
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 56 toward IL 56 West: Sugar Grove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 113
Toward IL 56 West: Sugar Grove
9
43.5 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 47 South, US 30 East: Sugar Grove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 47 South, US 30 East: Sugar Grove
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.83 one way
$17.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.70 | $19.40 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.87 | $21.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.47 | $24.95 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.18
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(25.8 mi)
$1.55
Tri-state Tollway
(10.5 mi)
$0.63
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$2
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.93 | $2.71 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.91 | $3.62 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Fox, IL
Morning in Fox on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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 17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 13% highway, with the longest stretch of continuous highway at 25.8 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. After this section, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. Expect a mix of efficient tollway cruising and local road navigation. The transition from the tollway to surface roads will likely involve more frequent intersections and changes in speed limits.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.8 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.2 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.5 miles you will encounter 17 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 12.2 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
713 ft
632 ft
Total Climb
81 ft
Total Descent
62 ft
Highest Point
713 ft
~44.4 mi in
Elevation Range
81 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Des Plaines, IL and Fox, IL, road signs point toward Indiana, 22Nd Street (Cermak Road) and Elburn.
Indiana
11.2 mi in
|
~16m
|
via I 294
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
14.1 mi in
|
~21m
|
via I 88; IL 110
Elburn
43.4 mi in
|
~57m
About the Cities
Starting in Des Plaines, IL
Full guide →Founded 1852
Des Plaines is in Chicagoland. It is an inner-ring, northwest suburb of Chicago with two distinct portions: a suburban northern portion reminiscient of other, nearby northwest suburbs (including Niles, Park Ridge, and Mount Prospect), as well as a built-up southern portion with the businesses, hotels, and other amenities of the O'Hare Airport corridor (much like Rosemont, Chicago's O'Hare neighborhood, and Elk Grove Village).
Top landmarks
- • McDonald's #1 Store Museum — former McDonald's spot
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 56.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.18 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fox, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.2 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fox, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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