Des Plaines to Freeport is 97.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 56 minutes via Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and US 20 Business, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest's more populated areas toward the state's northwest region. The majority of your travel will be on surface roads, making it a good option if you prefer a more local feel over interstate cruising. With a short duration and modest fuel cost, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing plenty of time for your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.9 miles from Des Plaines, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
55.3 mi
59m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
29.6 mi
34m
US 20 Business
3.6 mi
5m
I 39
2.6 mi
2m
South Galena Avenue
1.7 mi
2m
East Oakton Street
1.4 mi
2m
West Oakton Street
1 mi
1m
East Algonquin Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 55.3 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Freeport, IL.
1
Start on Henry Avenue
262 ft·16 sec·Henry Avenue
2
Turn left onto White Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·White Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road
0.5 mi·1 min·East Algonquin Road
4
Turn left onto US 12; US 45
0.5 mi·51 sec·Lee Street
5
Turn right onto East Oakton Street
1.4 mi·2 min·East Oakton Street
6
Continue on West Oakton Street
1.0 mi·1 min·West Oakton Street
7
Turn left onto South Elmhurst Road
0.2 mi·26 sec·South Elmhurst Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West Toll: RockfordUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto I 90
55 mi·59 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
11
Merge onto I 39; US 51
0.5 mi·30 sec·I 39; US 51
12
Continue on I 39; US 20; US 51
2.1 mi·2 min·I 39; US 20; US 51
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
30 mi·34 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit onto US 20 Business
3.6 mi·5 min·US 20 Business
Toward US 20 BUS: Freeport
15
Turn slight right onto US 20 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·South Galena Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
US 20 Business
Trip Plan
Given this is a trip under 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to maximize your time in Freeport without feeling rushed. The longest stretch on the highway is 55.3 miles, so plan your fuel needs accordingly, though the total fuel cost is estimated at just $15. Since it's a relatively short drive primarily on surface roads, keep an eye out for local traffic and speed limit changes as you get closer to Freeport. There are no specific stops noted, so you can make spontaneous breaks as needed.
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 48.9 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.3 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 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.9 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Freeport, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Des Plaines, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Des Plaines, IL
This is one driving day of about 97.8 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Des Plaines, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 55.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 59.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|White Street
Turn left onto White Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East Algonquin Road
At end of road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.8 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford
5
4.4 mi into trip|~9m in|I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
59.6 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.92 one way
$29.84 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$16.43
$32.87
premium
$4.81
$18.50
$37.01
diesel
$5.40
$20.80
$41.61
Estimated Tolls: $3.87
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(55.3 mi)$3.87
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.3
0
$10.27
$4.69
Efficient EV
24.5
0
$8.56
$3.91
EV Truck/SUV
39.1
0
$13.69
$6.26
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Des Plaines, IL
Morning
in Des Plaines on Sunday
Local time
11:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
E 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:59AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:55AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Freeport, IL
Morning
in Freeport on Sunday
Local time
11:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°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
20 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
1h 56m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features about 6% highway driving, with the longest stretch on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway covering 55.3 miles. After this initial highway segment, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your drive. Expect a change in pace as you move from the tollway's faster travel to more local road conditions. You'll notice the shift from potentially faster, more direct travel to navigating through towns and varying speed limits.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.3 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near White Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.8 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (White Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Algonquin Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 97.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.3 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.87 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams 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.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Freeport, 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: near the start (White Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Algonquin Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles: 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 Freeport, IL before heading back.
