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

The driving distance from Chatham, IL to Des Plaines, IL is about 29.2 miles (47 km), with a travel time of about 00h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 24.5 miles (39.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 47m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST.
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
29.19 mi
00h 53m
Flight
24.53 mi
39.48 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chatham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
24.53 mi
Kilometers
39.48 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
29.19 mi
Kilometers
46.98 km
Drive Time
00h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Des Plaines
Sat, Nov 7, 12:29 PM CST
Return by in Chatham
Sat, Nov 7, 1:23 PM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chatham
2026-11-07T11:35
Arrive Des Plaines
Sat, Nov 7, 12:29 PM CST
Route Timing
00h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:54 AM to 10:54 AM CST

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

Leave by
4:42 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chatham
9:30 PM CST
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
Austin
IL

Township in Macon County, Illinois

From Chatham
14.6 mi
00h 26m
To Des Plaines
14.6 mi
00h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
34°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 12:00 AM CST
Wind
5 mph WNW
Destination
51°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM CST
Wind
5 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    96 m · 29 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 84th Street

    670 ft · 32 sec · East 84th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive

    669 ft · 26 sec · South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East 83rd Street

    2620 ft · 1 min · East 83rd Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto South State Street

    33 m · 2 sec · South State Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 94 West

    1231 ft · 32 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West

    732 ft · 18 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Dan Ryan Expressway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)

  10. 10

    Continue on Kennedy Expressway

    8.2 mi · 12 min · Kennedy Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Edens Expressway

    2.2 mi · 2 min · Edens Expressway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 14 West: Caldwell Avenue

    1068 ft · 26 sec

  13. 13

    Turn slight right onto North Caldwell Avenue

    2.5 mi · 4 min · North Caldwell Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Touhy Avenue

    2.3 mi · 4 min · West Touhy Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn slight right onto Busse Highway

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Busse Highway

  16. 16

    Turn slight left onto Oakton Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Oakton Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

    1.1 km · 1 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 Chatham 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
19 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
65.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Kennedy Expressway
8.16 mi · 28%
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
7.9 mi · 27%
North Caldwell Avenue
2.52 mi · 9%
West Touhy Avenue
2.29 mi · 8%
Edens Expressway
2.18 mi · 7%
Busse Highway
1.54 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Kennedy Expressway

Continue on Kennedy Expressway

8.16 mi · 00h 12m

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 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.7 mi
24.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Austin
00h 26m from Chatham
Leave By
4:42 PM CST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Chatham 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 Chatham to Des Plaines?

The road trip is about 29.2 miles (47 km) and usually takes 00h 53m 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?

Austin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 14.6 miles from Chatham and 14.6 miles from Des Plaines.

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

The direct path is about 24.5 miles (39.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.7 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 CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:42 PM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.70 one way or $9.40 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Austin

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

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

RAIL

Chicago Union Station

10 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

Summit

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

La Grange Road

12 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Glenview station

21 mi away
1116 Depot St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chatham and Des Plaines. Straight-line distance: 24.53 mi (39.48 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Chatham

Chatham is a place in Illinois, United States.

Population0
Coordinates41.7411500, -87.6125500
Altitude180
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: (-87.612223, 41.741155)
End: Henry Avenue (-87.883408, 42.033456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 47 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.03 gal
3.9 L · about $4.70
Round trip
$9.40
2.06 gal · 7.8 L
Estimated CO2
9.2 kg one way
Round trip: 18.3 kg / 40 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.56 $4.70 $9.40
Mid-grade $5.19 $5.34 $10.69
Premium $5.75 $5.92 $11.84
Diesel $6.56 $6.76 $13.52

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 · Nov 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Chatham and Des Plaines. The current time is 11:35:48.

Distance to Other Cities

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