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

The driving distance from Des Plaines, IL to Benton, IL is about 313.4 miles (504.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 284.2 miles (457.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 42m 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
313.33 mi
05h 51m
Flight
284.24 mi
457.44 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Des Plaines.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
284.24 mi
Kilometers
457.44 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
313.33 mi
Kilometers
504.26 km
Drive Time
05h 51m

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 05h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Benton
Wed, Apr 15, 1:32 AM CDT
Return by in Des Plaines
Wed, Apr 15, 7:23 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Plaines
2026-04-14T19:41
Arrive Benton
Wed, Apr 15, 1:32 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:51 AM to 1:51 PM CDT

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

Leave by
5:18 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Des Plaines
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
Tolono
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Des Plaines
156.8 mi
02h 55m
To Benton
156.5 mi
02h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph SW
Destination
69°F
Tonight

Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 to 14 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Henry Avenue

    557 ft · 25 sec · Henry Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · South Des Plaines River Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 South: Indiana

    2265 ft · 55 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    11.5 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway

  7. 7

    Continue on Mile-Long Bridge

    1.5 km · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge

  8. 8

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    8.5 mi · 11 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street

    1162 ft · 28 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue

    2529 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Cicero Avenue

    4.9 mi · 8 min · Cicero Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto 167th Street

    855 ft · 26 sec · 167th Street

  13. 13

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80

    3048 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    188.4 mi · 3 hr 24 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    65.7 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    20 mi · 22 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 14: Christopher, Benton

    1972 ft · 50 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout toward Public Square

    106 m · 6 sec · Public Square

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Public Square

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
20 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
255 mi · 81%
Tri-State Tollway
28.3 mi · 9%
Ken Gray Expressway
20 mi · 6%
Cicero Avenue
4.89 mi · 2%
South Des Plaines River Road
1.77 mi · 1%
Mile-Long Bridge
0.94 mi
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Merge slight left

188 mi · 03h 24m

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
05h 51m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.2 mi
284.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tolono
02h 55m from Des Plaines
Leave By
5:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Des Plaines and Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Benton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 313.4 miles (504.3 km) and usually takes 05h 51m 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?

Tolono is a useful midpoint, sitting about 156.8 miles from Des Plaines and 156.5 miles from Benton.

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

The direct path is about 284.2 miles (457.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.2 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 5:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.71 one way or $83.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 98.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Des Plaines and Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Benton.

Stop Ideas Near Tolono

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

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

RAIL

Illinois Terminal

15 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

37 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

55 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Mattoon station

57 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Plaines and Benton. Straight-line distance: 284.24 mi (457.44 km).

Des Plaines

#1 Des Plaines

The most populous city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population58,179
Coordinates42.0333600, -87.8834000
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
Benton

#2 Benton

City in Illinois

Population6,784
Coordinates37.9967200, -88.9200700
Altitude144
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Plaines (-87.8834, 42.03336)
End: Benton (-88.92007, 37.99672)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 504 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.06 gal
41.85 L · about $41.71
Round trip
$83.41
22.12 gal · 83.7 L
Estimated CO2
98.3 kg one way
Round trip: 196.6 kg / 433 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.71 $83.41
Mid-grade $4.25 $47.04 $94.08
Premium $4.65 $51.47 $102.95
Diesel $5.30 $58.66 $117.32

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Des Plaines and Benton. The current time is 19:41:06.

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.