Spanning 76.6 miles through the Illinois Midwest, this trip connects Momence to Des Plaines in approximately 1 hour and 46 minutes. Because the total duration is quite manageable, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You should budget about $12 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating this path involves utilizing a mix of the Tri-State Tollway, the Calumet Expressway, and the South Dixie Highway. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick change of scenery, the straightforward nature of this drive makes it a practical choice for your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.3 miles from Momence, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tri-State Tollway
41.4 mi
52m
Calumet Expressway
14.1 mi
19m
South Dixie Highway
6.2 mi
9m
North Dixie Highway
5.8 mi
8m
County Road East 1241 North
3.9 mi
5m
South Des Plaines River Road
1.7 mi
3m
East Taylor Street
0.9 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 41.4 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Momence, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on IL 1; IL 17
5.8 mi·8 min·North Dixie Highway
2
Continue on IL 1; IL 17
0.3 mi·40 sec·South Main Street
3
Turn right onto IL 1; IL 17
0.9 mi·1 min·East Taylor Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto IL 1
3.9 mi·5 min·County Road East 1241 North
5
Continue on IL 1
6.2 mi·9 min·South Dixie Highway
6
Continue on IL 1
14 mi·19 min·Calumet Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80, I 294 North, I 94 East: Iowa, Wisconsin, IndianaUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Iowa, Wisconsin
9
Merge onto I 80; I 294
4.5 mi·6 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.8 mi·1 min·Tri-State Tollway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
24 mi·29 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
12 mi·15 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 42 A-BToward Touhy AvenueUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 42 A-BToward Touhy Avenue
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Touhy Avenue WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 42BToward Touhy Avenue WestUse the right lane.
17
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
325 ft·7 sec·East Touhy Avenue
18
Turn slight right
339 ft·9 sec
19
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
1.7 mi·3 min·South Des Plaines River Road
20
Turn left onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi·24 sec·Henry Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should account for the turn-heavy nature of the local roads when planning your arrival. There are no scheduled stops on this 76.6-mile route, so ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to make the most of your $12 budget. Keep a close eye on your navigation, especially when transitioning off the Tri-State Tollway, as the local road segments can be easy to miss. Because the route is compact, you can comfortably complete the drive in one go without the need for extended rest breaks. Focus on staying alert during the local portions of the drive where turns are most frequent.
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 38.3 miles from Momence, IL, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.4 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 17 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.3 miles or 56m 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 29m
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 Momence, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Momence, IL
This is one driving day of about 76.6 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Momence, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Tri-State Tollway for about 41.4 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 31.1 and 74.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
31.1 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward I 80, I 294 North, I 94 East: Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 80, I 294 North, I 94 East: Iowa, Wisc...
6
31.4 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Iowa, Wisconsin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North: Iowa, Wisconsin
7
73.5 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
74.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m 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
74.3 mi into trip|~1h 42m 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
$11.98 one way
$23.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.15
$26.30
premium
$4.89
$14.74
$29.48
diesel
$5.61
$16.91
$33.82
Estimated Tolls: $2.48
Tri-state Tollway
(41.4 mi)$2.48
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
$12
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23
0
$8.04
$3.68
Efficient EV
19.2
0
$6.70
$3.06
EV Truck/SUV
30.6
0
$10.72
$4.90
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Momence, IL
Evening
in Momence on Sunday
Local time
6:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Plaines, IL
Evening
in Des Plaines on Sunday
Local time
6:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
1 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 46m 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 39.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between road types. Only 18% of your journey is spent on highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local surface streets. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is a 41.4-mile run along the Tri-State Tollway, which offers a brief reprieve from the stop-and-go nature of the local sections. The character of the road shifts significantly as you move from the quieter stretches near Momence into the more complex, turn-heavy infrastructure closer to Des Plaines. Be prepared for a dynamic experience behind the wheel that requires frequent adjustments to your speed and direction.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.4 mi on Tri-State 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 31.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 31.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
727 ft611 ft
Total Climb
217 ft
Total Descent
188 ft
Highest Point
727 ft
~19.1 mi in
Elevation Range
115 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Momence, IL and Des Plaines, IL, road signs point toward Wisconsin and Indiana.
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 46m. Total distance: 76.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.4 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.48 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state 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.
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 31.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.5 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.
