How far is Boulder Hill, IL from Des Plaines, IL?

The driving distance from Boulder Hill, IL to Des Plaines, IL is about 46.6 miles (75 km), with a travel time of about 00h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 32.2 miles (51.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
46.62 mi
00h 57m
Flight
32.16 mi
51.75 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Boulder Hill.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
32.16 mi
Kilometers
51.75 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
46.62 mi
Kilometers
75.03 km
Drive Time
00h 57m

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 00h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Des Plaines
Wed, Apr 22, 9:09 PM CDT
Return by in Boulder Hill
Wed, Apr 22, 10:07 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Boulder Hill
2026-04-22T20:12
Arrive Des Plaines
Wed, Apr 22, 9:09 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:58 AM to 10:58 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:34 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Boulder Hill
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Downers Grove
IL

Village in Downers Grove, Lisle, and York Townships, DuPage County, Illinois, US

From Boulder Hill
20.9 mi
00h 28m
To Des Plaines
25.7 mi
00h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
69°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Boulder Hill and Des Plaines.

  1. 1

    Start on Circle Drive East

    1261 ft · 57 sec · Circle Drive East

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Greenbriar Road

    1618 ft · 1 min · Greenbriar Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Fernwood Road

    92 m · 16 sec · Fernwood Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Briarcliff Road

    82 m · 16 sec · Briarcliff Road

  5. 5

    Turn right

    2.7 mi · 4 min

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Ogden Avenue

    5 mi · 9 min · Ogden Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Illinois Route 59

    3.4 mi · 6 min · Illinois Route 59

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago

    3161 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    11 mi · 14 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford

    3128 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee

    1156 ft · 28 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    9.9 mi · 13 min · Tri-State Tollway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Touhy Avenue

    635 ft · 16 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue

    2694 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue West

    688 ft · 17 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Touhy Avenue West

    1799 ft · 44 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue

    99 m · 7 sec · East Touhy Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn slight right

    103 m · 9 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Des Plaines River Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Henry Avenue

    557 ft · 24 sec · Henry Avenue

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Henry Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
22 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
47.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
15.7 mi · 34%
Tri-State Tollway
9.94 mi · 21%
Ogden Avenue
5.04 mi · 11%
Illinois Route 59
3.38 mi · 7%
South Des Plaines River Road
1.71 mi · 4%
Touhy Avenue
0.63 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

11 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.4 mi
32.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Downers Grove
00h 28m from Boulder Hill
Leave By
4:34 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Boulder Hill and Sunny near Des Plaines.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Boulder Hill to Des Plaines?

The road trip is about 46.6 miles (75 km) and usually takes 00h 57m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Downers Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.9 miles from Boulder Hill and 25.7 miles from Des Plaines.

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

The direct path is about 32.2 miles (51.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:34 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.22 one way or $12.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Boulder Hill and Sunny near Des Plaines.

Stop Ideas Near Downers Grove

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Downers Grove, 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 Downers Grove.

RAIL

La Grange Road

12 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Naperville

12 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Summit

17 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

32 mi away
225 South Canal Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Boulder Hill and Des Plaines. Straight-line distance: 32.16 mi (51.75 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Boulder Hill

City in Illinois, United States of America

Population8,108
Coordinates41.7125300, -88.3361800
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: Circle Drive East (-88.336343, 41.712417)
End: Henry Avenue (-87.883408, 42.033456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 75 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.65 gal
6.23 L · about $6.22
Round trip
$12.44
3.3 gal · 12.46 L
Estimated CO2
14.7 kg one way
Round trip: 29.3 kg / 65 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.22 $12.44
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.02 $14.03
Premium $4.65 $7.68 $15.36
Diesel $5.30 $8.75 $17.50

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 Boulder Hill and Des Plaines. The current time is 20:12:11.

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.