Origin
Hebron, IL
Morning in Hebron on Sunday
Local time
11:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hebron, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
49.2 mi
79 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hebron, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 49.2-mile drive from Hebron to Des Plaines, Illinois, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 9 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it's a practical option for those looking for a relatively short excursion within the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes US 12, with segments on Maple Avenue and North Main Street, offering a direct path. With an estimated fuel cost of $7, this drive is budget-friendly. You'll experience a highway-focused profile for most of the trip, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Illinois communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 39.5 mi | 54m |
| Maple Avenue | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| North Main Street | 2 mi | 2m |
| South Des Plaines River Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Henry Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Prairie Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 39.5 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hebron, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on Prairie Avenue
119 ft
·
7 sec
·
Prairie Avenue
2
Turn right onto IL 47
226 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto IL 173
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Maple Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 12
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 12
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 12
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
8
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
US 12; IL 59
9
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
10
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12; IL 59
11
Continue on US 12; IL 59
23 mi
·
35 min
·
US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto US 12; US 45
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Des Plaines River Road
13
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Henry Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Hebron, 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 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 49.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 47 / Main Street
Turn right onto IL 47 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 173 / Maple Avenue
Turn right onto IL 173 / Maple Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
6.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 12 / North Main Street
Turn right onto US 12 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
8.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
US 12
Continue onto US 12
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
49.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
Henry Avenue
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.69 one way
$15.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.45 | $16.89 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.47 | $18.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.86 | $21.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Des Plaines, IL
Morning in Des Plaines on Sunday
Local time
11:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 10 to 15 mph
87% chance
Live forecast
Tornado Watch
Tornado Watch issued April 14 at 5:45PM CDT until April 14 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 14 at 4:05PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
49°F
Gilmer, IL
25 mi in
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
16 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 9m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that is predominantly highway-focused, with 80% of the journey taking place on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 39.5 miles along US 12, allowing for a consistent pace. While primarily highway, the route incorporates local street names like Maple Avenue and North Main Street, suggesting brief transitions into more town-like settings. This blend means you'll spend most of your time cruising, with only minor variations in speed as you navigate the main arteries.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.5 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and Maple Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IL 47 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IL 47 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IL 173 / Maple Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (US 12 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
930 ft
632 ft
Total Climb
126 ft
Total Descent
423 ft
Highest Point
930 ft
Elevation Range
297 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Hebron, IL
Full guide →Founded 1895
Arriving 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 9m. Total distance: 49.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.5 miles on US 12. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (IL 47 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IL 173 / Maple Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (US 12 / North Main Street): 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.
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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