Dixon to Des Plaines is 101.3 miles and takes about 2h 1m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, taking you from the Midwest region to another part of the same region. Expect a route with frequent turns, suggesting a more local feel than a direct interstate blast. With just one recommended day, this trip is easily manageable, offering a straightforward journey for a quick hop between two Illinois locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.6 miles from Dixon, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
85.2 mi
1h 35m
Tri-State Tollway
9.9 mi
13m
South Des Plaines River Road
1.7 mi
3m
South Galena Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
East Touhy Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
East 6th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 85.2 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dixon, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on East 6th Street
282 ft·17 sec·East 6th Street
2
Turn left onto US 52; IL 26
1.3 mi·2 min·South Galena Avenue
3
Turn left
0.2 mi·26 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
5
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
80 mi·1 hr 29 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
4.7 mi·5 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 139Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, RockfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee
9
Merge onto I 294
9.9 mi·13 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 42 A-BToward Touhy AvenueUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 42 A-BToward Touhy Avenue
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Touhy Avenue WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 42BToward Touhy Avenue WestUse the right lane.
14
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
325 ft·7 sec·East Touhy Avenue
15
Turn slight right
339 ft·9 sec
16
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
1.7 mi·3 min·South Des Plaines River Road
17
Turn left onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi·24 sec·Henry Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 1m estimated duration, this is a trip you can comfortably complete in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic as you get closer to Des Plaines. Since this is not an excessively long drive, you have flexibility with stops; however, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 85.2-mile stretch on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates. The turn-heavy nature means staying alert and confirming navigation is key to a smooth trip.
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 50.6 miles from Dixon, IL, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.2 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.6 miles or 58m 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 34m
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 Dixon, 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 Dixon, IL
This is one driving day of about 101.3 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Dixon, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 85.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 82.7 and 99 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
87.5 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 139
Toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rock...
7
98.2 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward Touhy Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 42 A-B
Toward Touhy Avenue
7
98.8 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Touhy Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Touhy Avenue West
8
99 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Touhy Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 42B
Toward Touhy Avenue West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.84 one way
$31.67 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.39
$34.78
premium
$4.89
$19.49
$38.99
diesel
$5.61
$22.37
$44.73
Estimated Tolls: $5.71
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(85.2 mi)$5.11
Tri-state Tollway
(9.9 mi)$0.60
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
$16
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.4
0
$10.64
$4.86
Efficient EV
25.3
0
$8.86
$4.05
EV Truck/SUV
40.5
0
$14.18
$6.48
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 18, 2026
Origin
Dixon, IL
Morning
in Dixon on Sunday
Local time
10:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Plaines, IL
Morning
in Des Plaines on Sunday
Local time
10:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WSW 15 to 20 mph71% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 1:33AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
51°F
Aurora, IL
51 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
6 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
2h 1m 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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 87.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with a highway share of 0%, meaning you won't be on high-speed limited-access roads for most of the journey. You'll experience a longest stretch of 85.2 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, which should provide a good period of consistent travel. Following this, the route incorporates the Tri-State Tollway and South Des Plaines River Road, indicating a transition to more varied road types with potential for more frequent intersections and lower speed limits as you approach Des Plaines.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.2 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 82.7 miles in near I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 101.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 82.7 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 98.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dixon, IL and Des Plaines, IL, road signs point toward Rockford and Milwaukee.
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 2h 1m. Total distance: 101.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.2 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.71 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 Des Plaines, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 82.7 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 98.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Des Plaines, IL before heading back.
