Morton, IL to Des Plaines, IL is 161.5 miles and takes about 3h 8m via I 55 and I 74, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward drive for many. Given its relatively short duration and highway-centric profile, it’s a good option for a single-day excursion or a quick commute. You'll mostly be on major interstates, so expect consistent travel speeds for the bulk of the trip. Plan for a single day, as the drive is well within what most people can comfortably complete in daylight hours.
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
80.7 miles from Morton, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
113.6 mi
2h 6m
I 74
23.9 mi
25m
Tri-State Tollway
16.6 mi
20m
South Des Plaines River Road
1.7 mi
3m
East Jackson Street
0.4 mi
<1m
North Morton Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
East Touhy Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 113.6 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morton, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on US 150
0.4 mi·49 sec·East Jackson Street
2
Turn right onto North Morton Avenue
0.3 mi·39 sec·North Morton Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward I 74 East: Bloomington
4
Merge onto I 74
24 mi·25 min·I 74
5
Keep slight left at fork
1.4 mi·2 min
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
6
Merge onto I 55; US 51
114 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.6 mi·3 min
Exit 277AToward I 294 Tollway North: WisconsinUse the right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
9
Merge onto I 294
4.8 mi·5 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
12 mi·15 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 42 A-BToward Touhy AvenueUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 42 A-BToward Touhy Avenue
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Touhy Avenue WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 42BToward Touhy Avenue WestUse the right lane.
15
Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue
325 ft·7 sec·East Touhy Avenue
16
Turn slight right
339 ft·9 sec
17
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
1.7 mi·3 min·South Des Plaines River Road
18
Turn left onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi·24 sec·Henry Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 8m estimated drive time, leaving Morton, IL in the morning should allow you to reach Des Plaines, IL with plenty of daylight to spare. The $25 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you go. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility; consider stopping about halfway through your longest stretch on I 55 for a break. Since this is a single-day trip, you can be flexible with your departure time. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you enter the greater Chicago area, as congestion can impact travel time.
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 80.7 miles from Morton, IL, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.6 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 36 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.7 miles or 1h 31m 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 28m
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 Morton, 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 Morton, IL
This is one driving day of about 161.5 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Morton, 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 I 55 for about 113.6 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 24.9 and 159.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
24.9 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North: Chicago
7
140 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 277A
Toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin
7
158.5 mi into trip|~3h 2m 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
159.1 mi into trip|~3h 3m 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
159.2 mi into trip|~3h 3m 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
$25.25 one way
$50.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.72
$55.44
premium
$4.89
$31.08
$62.16
diesel
$5.61
$35.66
$71.31
Estimated Tolls: $0.99
Tri-state Tollway
(16.6 mi)$0.99
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
$25
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.4
0
$16.96
$7.75
Efficient EV
40.4
0
$14.13
$6.46
EV Truck/SUV
64.6
0
$22.61
$10.34
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 20, 2026
Origin
Morton, IL
Morning
in Morton on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Plaines, IL
Morning
in Des Plaines on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
5 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 8m 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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 139.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 85% of the 161.5 miles on major roads like I 55, I 74, and the Tri-State Tollway. You'll experience a long stretch of 113.6 miles on I 55, so be prepared for extended periods of cruising. The remaining miles will transition to surface roads, likely with more frequent exits and local traffic as you approach your destination. Expect dense exits and merging traffic as you get closer to the Chicago metropolitan area.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 74. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 161.5 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 24.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 140 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 158.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 8m. Total distance: 161.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.99 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.
Yes — we found about 19 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 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 140 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 158.5 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 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 Des Plaines, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
