Stillman Valley to Des Plaines is 80.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 35 minutes via Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, I 39, and West Roosevelt Street, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Midwest region of Illinois to another part of the Midwest, also within Illinois. Expect a drive that involves a mix of highway and local roads, so be prepared for some turns. Given the relatively short duration and distance, this is an ideal one-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.1 miles from Stillman Valley, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
55.4 mi
59m
I 39
11.2 mi
12m
West Roosevelt Street
8.3 mi
12m
East Oakton Street
1.4 mi
2m
West Oakton Street
1 mi
1m
East Algonquin Road
0.5 mi
1m
Lee Street
0.5 mi
<1m
South Elmhurst Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 55.4 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stillman Valley, IL and Des Plaines, IL.
1
Start on IL 72
8.3 mi·12 min·West Roosevelt Street
2
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
3
Merge onto I 39; US 51
8.3 mi·9 min·I 39; US 51
4
Merge onto I 39; US 20; US 51
2.2 mi·2 min·I 39; US 20; US 51
5
Continue on I 39; US 51
0.6 mi·41 sec·I 39; US 51
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: Chicago
7
Merge onto I 90
20 mi·21 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
36 mi·38 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 73Toward Elmhurst RoadUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
288 ft·9 sec
Toward Elmhurst Road NorthUse the slight left lane.
11
Turn straight onto South Elmhurst Road
0.4 mi·42 sec·South Elmhurst Road
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Turn right onto West Oakton Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·West Oakton Street
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on West Oakton Street
0.9 mi·1 min·West Oakton Street
14
Continue on East Oakton Street
1.4 mi·2 min·East Oakton Street
15
Turn left onto US 12; US 45
0.5 mi·59 sec·Lee Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto East Algonquin Road
0.5 mi·1 min·East Algonquin Road
17
Turn left onto White Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·White Street
18
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
262 ft·11 sec·Henry Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a shorter, one-day trip covering 80.3 miles, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the drive, which takes approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $13, and plan for a stop if needed, though the route data indicates no specific recommended stops. Pay close attention to navigation, especially on the local road portions, as the profile suggests it's a turn-heavy drive.
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 40.1 miles from Stillman Valley, IL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.4 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 47m 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 18m
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 Stillman Valley, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Stillman Valley, IL
This is one driving day of about 80.3 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Stillman Valley, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 55.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.4 and 76.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20.4 mi into trip|~26m in|I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
40.2 mi into trip|~48m in|I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
75.8 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward Elmhurst Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 73
Toward Elmhurst Road
7
76.3 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Elmhurst Road North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Elmhurst Road North
6
76.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|West Oakton Street
Turn right onto West Oakton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.55 one way
$25.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.78
$27.57
premium
$4.89
$15.45
$30.91
diesel
$5.61
$17.73
$35.46
Estimated Tolls: $3.88
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(55.4 mi)$3.88
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
$13
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.1
0
$8.43
$3.85
Efficient EV
20.1
0
$7.03
$3.21
EV Truck/SUV
32.1
0
$11.24
$5.14
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Stillman Valley, IL
Late night
in Stillman Valley on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Plaines, IL
Late night
in Des Plaines on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 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
2 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
1h 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.
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 80.3
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 only 14% of the journey on highways. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for 55.4 miles. As you progress, expect the road to transition from faster highway segments to more frequent turns and local road navigation as you approach your destination. It's a drive that keeps you engaged with varying road conditions.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.4 mi on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 20.4 miles in near I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 20.4 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.8 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 1h 35m. Total distance: 80.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.4 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.88 in tolls one way, starting with Jane Addams 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.
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 20.4 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.8 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.
