Origin
North Chicago, IL
Late night in North Chicago on Tuesday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Chicago, IL to Des Plaines, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
26.2 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Chicago, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Des Plaines, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 26.3-mile journey from North Chicago, IL, to Des Plaines, IL, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 34 minutes. The route primarily utilizes local roads like 18th Street and Sheridan Road, with a brief section on Bobby E. Given its minimal highway share and turn-heavy profile, expect a leisurely pace. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $4, making it an economical option. Since you'll be staying within the Midwest region and the state of Illinois, the scenery will likely remain consistent. This drive is perfect for a quick errand or a short excursion without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 18.2 mi | 21m |
| Buckley Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| North Des Plaines River Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Golf Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Bobby E. Thompson Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Sheridan Road | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Fellows Place | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Henry Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 18.2 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Chicago, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on Fellows Place
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Fellows Place
2
Turn right onto 18th Street
155 ft
·
10 sec
·
18th Street
3
Turn right onto IL 137
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
Sheridan Road
4
Continue on IL 137
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Bobby E. Thompson Expressway
5
Turn right onto IL 137
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Buckley Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 94 Toll East: Chicago
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 94
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 45
Toward IL 58: Golf Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto North East River Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North East River Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto IL 58
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Golf Road
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto US 45
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Des Plaines River Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Henry Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 24.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
18th Street
Turn right onto 18th Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
IL 137 / Buckley Road
Turn right onto IL 137 / Buckley Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
16 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 294 South Toll: Indiana, O'Hare
7
23.1 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward IL 58: Golf Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45
Toward IL 58: Golf Road
6
24.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
US 45 / North Des Plaines River Road
Turn left onto US 45 / North Des Plaines River Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.10 one way
$8.19 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.50 | $8.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.04 | $10.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.78 | $11.57 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.09
Tri-state Tollway
(18.2 mi)
$1.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.29 | $1.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.67 | $1.68 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Des Plaines, IL
Late night in Des Plaines on Tuesday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
35m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this route, with no highway segments to speak of. The entire 26.3 miles will keep you engaged with frequent turns and navigation. While there isn't a 'longest stretch' to note due to the nature of local driving, you'll be navigating city streets and main thoroughfares for the full 34 minutes. This isn't a high-speed cruise; it's a more intimate exploration of the local road network. Expect a driving experience that requires constant attention to your surroundings and road signs.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.2 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.1 miles in near 18th Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 26.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (IL 137 / Buckley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from North Chicago, IL to Des Plaines, IL, road signs begin pointing toward O'hare along the way.
O'hare
16 mi in
|
~20m
|
via I 294
About the Cities
Starting in North Chicago, IL
Full guide →North Chicago is a suburb in Chicagoland.
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 35m. Total distance: 26.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.2 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.09 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 0.1 miles (18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (IL 137 / Buckley Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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