How far is Atwood, IL from Des Plaines, IL?

The driving distance from Atwood, IL to Des Plaines, IL is about 182.1 miles (293 km), with a travel time of about 03h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 157.3 miles (253.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 02m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
182.04 mi
03h 01m
Flight
157.28 mi
253.11 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Atwood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
157.28 mi
Kilometers
253.11 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
182.04 mi
Kilometers
292.97 km
Drive Time
03h 01m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Des Plaines
Thu, Apr 23, 12:26 PM CDT
Return by in Atwood
Thu, Apr 23, 3:27 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Atwood
2026-04-23T09:25
Arrive Des Plaines
Thu, Apr 23, 12:26 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:01 AM to 11:01 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:58 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Atwood
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Ashkum
IL

Township in Iroquois County, Illinois

From Atwood
93 mi
01h 30m
To Des Plaines
89 mi
01h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 24 mph S
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Atwood and Des Plaines.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Atwood and Des Plaines.

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Street

    2959 ft · 1 min · North Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto County Road 950 North

    9.2 mi · 14 min · County Road 950 North

  3. 3

    Continue on East Southline Road

    2669 ft · 1 min · East Southline Road

  4. 4

    Continue on County Road 950 North

    1.2 km · 1 min · County Road 950 North

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight left toward I-57 North: Champaign

    2743 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    136.8 mi · 2 hr 29 min

  7. 7

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

    1718 ft · 33 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    20.8 mi · 26 min · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    11.7 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Touhy Avenue

    635 ft · 16 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue

    2694 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue West

    688 ft · 17 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Touhy Avenue West

    1799 ft · 44 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue

    99 m · 7 sec · East Touhy Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn slight right

    103 m · 9 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Des Plaines River Road

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Henry Avenue

    557 ft · 24 sec · Henry Avenue

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Henry Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Atwood and Des Plaines.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-57 North
137 mi · 75%
Tri-State Tollway
32.5 mi · 18%
County Road 950 North
9.96 mi · 5%
I 294 Toll North
1.78 mi · 1%
South Des Plaines River Road
1.71 mi · 1%
Touhy Avenue
0.63 mi
Longest Stretch

I-57 North

Merge slight left

137 mi · 02h 29m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.8 mi
157.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ashkum
01h 30m from Atwood
Leave By
10:58 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Atwood and Mostly Sunny near Des Plaines.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Atwood to Des Plaines?

The road trip is about 182.1 miles (293 km) and usually takes 03h 01m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Ashkum is a useful midpoint, sitting about 93 miles from Atwood and 89 miles from Des Plaines.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 157.3 miles (253.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:58 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.21 one way or $48.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Atwood and Mostly Sunny near Des Plaines.

Stop Ideas Near Ashkum

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Ashkum, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ashkum.

RAIL

Gilman

14 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Kankakee

28 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Dwight station

46 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

57 mi away
721 West Washington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Atwood and Des Plaines. Straight-line distance: 157.28 mi (253.11 km).

Atwood

#1 Atwood

City in Rawlins County, Kansas, United States

Population1,155
Coordinates39.7994800, -88.4622800
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Des Plaines

#2 Des Plaines

The most populous city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population58,179
Coordinates42.0333600, -87.8834000
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
Start: North Main Street (-88.462332, 39.799481)
End: Henry Avenue (-87.883408, 42.033456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 293 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.42 gal
24.32 L · about $24.21
Round trip
$48.42
12.84 gal · 48.64 L
Estimated CO2
57.1 kg one way
Round trip: 114.1 kg / 252 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.21 $48.42
Mid-grade $4.25 $27.30 $54.61
Premium $4.65 $29.88 $59.76
Diesel $5.30 $34.05 $68.10

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Atwood and Des Plaines. The current time is 09:25:05.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.