Trip from Villa Grove, IL to Des Plaines, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 35m

Distance

173.2 mi

279 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 23m ★

6 AM

3h 36m

8 AM

4h 1m

10 AM

3h 45m

12 PM

3h 42m

3 PM

3h 46m

5 PM

3h 59m

8 PM

3h 28m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Villa Grove, IL

Toni Seyfert

city in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Des Plaines, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 173.2-mile drive from Villa Grove, IL, to Des Plaines, IL, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-57 and the Tri-State Tollway, with a small portion on County Road 1600 E, making it a 65% highway experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $26, this trip is budget-friendly for a day excursion. It's a solid option for moving between two points within the Midwest region without needing an overnight stop, offering a practical way to cover ground.

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

86.6 miles from Villa Grove, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 57	108.1 mi	1h 58m
Tri-State Tollway	32.5 mi	40m
County Road 1600 E	8.1 mi	14m
County Road 1600 East	5.6 mi	9m
I 74	3.8 mi	4m
North Market Street	3 mi	4m
South Des Plaines River Road	1.7 mi	3m
North Sycamore Street	1.2 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 57 — 108.1 mi, about 1h 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Villa Grove, IL and Des Plaines, IL.

Start on this road

68 ft · 7 sec · this road

Turn right onto West Adams Street

496 ft · 27 sec · West Adams Street

Turn left onto IL 130

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Sycamore Street

Continue on IL 130

8.1 mi · 14 min · County Road 1600 E

Continue on IL 130

1.1 mi · 1 min · South Lincoln Street

Continue on IL 130

5.6 mi · 9 min · County Road 1600 East

Continue on IL 130

0.9 mi · 1 min · South High Cross Road

Continue on North High Cross Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · North High Cross Road

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto US 150; IL 130

1.1 mi · 1 min · East University Avenue

Use the left lane.

Continue on IL 130

0.4 mi · 42 sec · IL 130

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 130

0.6 mi · 1 min · IL 130

Toward I 74 West: Bloomington

Merge onto I 74

3.8 mi · 4 min · I 74

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Exit 182 Toward Neil Street

Keep slight right at fork onto North Neil Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · North Neil Street

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto East Marketview Drive

0.3 mi · 37 sec · East Marketview Drive

At end of road, turn left onto North Market Street

3.0 mi · 4 min · North Market Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Toward I-57 North: Kankakee

Merge onto I 57

108 mi · 1 hr 58 min · I 57

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Exit 349-350 Toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

1.8 mi · 3 min

Exit 349 Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 294

21 mi · 25 min · Tri-State Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294

12 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec

Exit 42 A-B Toward Touhy Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 42 A-B Toward Touhy Avenue

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Toward Touhy Avenue West Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Exit 42B Toward Touhy Avenue West Use the right lane.

Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue

325 ft · 7 sec · East Touhy Avenue

Turn slight right

339 ft · 9 sec

Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

1.7 mi · 3 min · South Des Plaines River Road

Turn left onto Henry Avenue

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Henry Avenue

Arrive at destination

Henry Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 3 hour and 35 minute duration, departing Villa Grove in the morning will allow you ample time to reach Des Plaines without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 108.1-mile stretch on I-57, and be aware of potential toll charges on the Tri-State Tollway. The $26 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting your trip.

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 86.6 miles from Villa Grove, IL, or about 1h 51m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.1 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 38 miles or 58m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 86.6 miles or 1h 51m 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 54m

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 Villa Grove, 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 Villa Grove, IL

This is one driving day of about 173.2 miles and 3h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Villa Grove, 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 57 for about 108.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

village in Chebanse Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Clifton, IL

87 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.

Popular next leg

Clifton, IL to Des Plaines, IL

90.8 mi · 1h 51m

Pacing Suggestions

Rantoul, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Clifton, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 86.6 miles from Villa Grove, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 108.1 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · early in the drive

Asian bowl express

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rantoul, Illinois

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch · 46min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+12172821215

Visit website

Red Wheel Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Rantoul, Illinois

0.7 mi

ET's Downtown Rantoul

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rantoul, Illinois

1.3 mi

Best coffee break · final third

La Bodega Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Posen, Illinois

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third · 46min to go 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

Visit website

The Well

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Manteno, Illinois

2.6 mi

Asian bowl express

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Rantoul, Illinois

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+12172821215

Visit website

Red Wheel Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Rantoul, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+12178930471

Visit website

ET's Downtown Rantoul

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Rantoul, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12178930222

Visit website

Arcade Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Paxton, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12173793268

BerryField Cafe

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Midlothian, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+17083882000

Visit website

Nariman Restaurants

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Bridgeview, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+17089075832

Visit website

Yolks & Berries

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Bradley, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+18159351501

Visit website

Casa amigos Mexican restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Rantoul, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12172156053

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Champaign, Illinois

+18668167584

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Champaign, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Champaign, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

Final third 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Frankfort, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–3:30 pm

+18154697124

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 23.7 and 170.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

23.7 mi into trip | ~40m in | North Neil Street

Keep slight right at fork onto North Neil Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

135.5 mi into trip | ~2h 45m in

Take the exit toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 349-350 Toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevar...

135.8 mi into trip | ~2h 45m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 349 Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

170.1 mi into trip | ~3h 29m 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

170.9 mi into trip | ~3h 31m 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

$27.08 one way

$54.16 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 61 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$29.73	$59.46
premium	$4.89	$33.33	$66.66
diesel	$5.61	$38.24	$76.48

Estimated Tolls: $1.95

Tri-state Tollway (32.5 mi) $1.95

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

$27

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	52	$18.19	$8.31
Efficient EV	43.3	$15.15	$6.93
EV Truck/SUV	69.3	$24.25	$11.08

Gas CO2

61 kg

EV CO2

20 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

Villa Grove, IL

Late night in Villa Grove on Tuesday

Local time

4:13 AM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Des Plaines, IL

Late night in Des Plaines on Tuesday

Local time

4:13 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

67°F

Clifton, IL

87 mi in

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

11 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

3h 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...

6 mi from route ~16 min detour Free near mile 137.4

Caution: Road Construction Near the Park

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a primarily highway-focused drive, with about 65% of the route utilizing major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 108.1 miles on I-57, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. While largely an interstate experience, the inclusion of County Road 1600 E introduces a brief change of scenery. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic exploration.

65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 108.1 mi on I 57.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.7 miles in near North Neil Street.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 173.2 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 23.7 miles (North Neil Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 135.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

778 ft 605 ft

Total Climb

337 ft

Total Descent

356 ft

Highest Point

778 ft

~49.5 mi in

Elevation Range

173 ft

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 Villa Grove, IL to Des Plaines, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin along the way.

Wisconsin

135.5 mi in | ~2h 45m

About the Cities

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 3h 35m. Total distance: 173.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 108.1 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.95 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 20 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Des Plaines, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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Explore more options from Villa Grove, IL or browse trips ending in Des Plaines, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

Trip from Villa Grove, IL to Des Plaines, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Asian bowl express

La Bodega Cafe

Asian bowl express

Red Wheel Restaurant

ET's Downtown Rantoul

Arcade Cafe

BerryField Cafe

Nariman Restaurants

Yolks & Berries

Casa amigos Mexican restaurant

La Bodega Cafe

The Well

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.

Bonny's Bistro

Solyne Cafe

EV Connect Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Nissan Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Destination Charger

Circle K | Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Main Line Station Rest Area - Northbound

Hinsdale Oasis

Main Line Station Rest Area - Southbound

Pilot Travel Center

Prairie View Rest Area - Northbound

Prairie View Rest Area - Southbound

Road Ranger

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Petro Stopping Centers

Road Ranger

Peotone Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Rest Area

Caffe Milan

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Villa Grove, IL

Des Plaines, IL

Same local time

11 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 35m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Pullman National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in Des Plaines, IL

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?