If you are looking to head west from Des Plaines to Guilford, expect a journey covering 143.2 miles through the Illinois Midwest. With a driving time of approximately 3 hours and 9 minutes, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion. You will navigate a mix of major corridors and local roads, including the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway. Budgeting around $22 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way transit. Since the route is entirely contained within Illinois, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a straightforward drive without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
55.3 mi
59m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
55.1 mi
1h 9m
South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road
8.1 mi
14m
South Galena Avenue
7.3 mi
13m
US 20 Business
3.6 mi
5m
I 39
2.6 mi
2m
East North Avenue
2.1 mi
3m
West Rawlins Road
1.9 mi
4m
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 Guilford, 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
7.3 mi·13 min·South Galena Avenue
16
Turn left onto US 20
14 mi·19 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
17
Continue on US 20; IL 78
2.1 mi·3 min·East North Avenue
18
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·8 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
19
Continue on US 20
0.5 mi·1 min·East Woodbine Street
20
Continue on US 20
4.6 mi·6 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
21
Continue on US 20
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
22
Turn straight onto US 20
0.1 mi·20 sec·Diagonal Street
23
Continue on US 20
0.7 mi·1 min·West Madison Street
24
Turn right onto CR 4
8.1 mi·14 min·South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road
25
Turn left onto West Rawlins Road
1.9 mi·4 min·West Rawlins Road
26
Continue on West Guilford Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·West Guilford Road
27
Arrive at destination
West Guilford Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour journey, consider departing early in the morning to avoid midday congestion on the busier highway sections. Since the trip includes only one planned stop, use the flexibility of the shorter duration to pace yourself according to your own comfort. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the latter half of the drive means you should account for slightly slower speeds once you exit the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Because fuel costs are estimated at $22, filling up your tank before leaving Des Plaines will likely suffice for the entire 143.2-mile trek. Always keep an eye on your navigation when transitioning onto South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road to ensure you stay on track through the more rural segments.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 1h 23m 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 32 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.6 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guilford, 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.
+
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 Des Plaines, IL
This is one driving day of about 143.2 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Des Plaines, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
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 14
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
$22.39 one way
$44.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.58
$49.16
premium
$4.89
$27.56
$55.12
diesel
$5.61
$31.62
$63.23
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
$22
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43
0
$15.04
$6.87
Efficient EV
35.8
0
$12.53
$5.73
EV Truck/SUV
57.3
0
$20.05
$9.16
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Des Plaines, IL
Morning
in Des Plaines on Tuesday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Guilford, IL
Morning
in Guilford on Tuesday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Freeport, IL
72 mi in
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
17 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
3h 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.
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?
Expect a transition from high-speed transit to a more technical, turn-heavy local drive as you progress toward your destination. You will spend roughly 4% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch being 55.3 miles on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. Once you leave the major tollways behind, the character of the road changes significantly. You will find yourself navigating South Elizabeth Scales Mound Road, which demands more focus than the initial highway segments. Prepare for a shift in pace that requires you to stay alert through the winding final legs of the trip.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 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 14 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 143.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 3h 9m. Total distance: 143.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Guilford, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Guilford, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
