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

The driving distance from Des Plaines, IL to Eldorado, IL is about 342.3 miles (550.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 293 miles (471.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
342.31 mi
06h 39m
Flight
293.03 mi
471.58 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
293.03 mi
Kilometers
471.58 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
342.31 mi
Kilometers
550.89 km
Drive Time
06h 39m

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 06h 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Eldorado
Thu, Apr 23, 12:44 PM CDT
Return by in Des Plaines
Thu, Apr 23, 7:24 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Plaines
2026-04-23T06:04
Arrive Eldorado
Thu, Apr 23, 12:44 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:40 PM to 2:10 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Des Plaines
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Tuscola
IL

City in Illinois

From Des Plaines
171.2 mi
03h 19m
To Eldorado
171.1 mi
03h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
82°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 17 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 left to continue on I 64 East: Louisville

    10.7 mi · 12 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Belle Rive, Bluford

    1901 ft · 36 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto County Highway 17

    736 ft · 15 sec · County Highway 17

  19. 19

    Continue on Brehm Lane

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Brehm Lane

  20. 20

    Continue on North Main Street

    2227 ft · 46 sec · North Main Street

  21. 21

    Turn left

    11.5 mi · 17 min

  22. 22

    Continue on County Road 6

    3.8 mi · 6 min · County Road 6

  23. 23

    Turn right onto South Washington Street

    1643 ft · 33 sec · South Washington Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto East Randolph Street

    136 m · 10 sec · East Randolph Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto South Jackson Street

    1511 ft · 25 sec · South Jackson Street

  26. 26

    Continue on County Road 1165 East

    9 mi · 13 min · County Road 1165 East

  27. 27

    Continue on County Road 1200 East

    10.5 mi · 16 min · County Road 1200 East

  28. 28

    Continue on State Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · State Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Locust Street

    1653 ft · 49 sec · Locust Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Locust Street

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
255 mi · 74%
Tri-State Tollway
28.3 mi · 8%
I 64 East
10.7 mi · 3%
County Road 1200 East
10.5 mi · 3%
County Road 1165 East
8.98 mi · 3%
Cicero Avenue
4.89 mi · 1%
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

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 39m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.3 mi
293 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tuscola
03h 19m from Des Plaines
Leave By
10:40 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Des Plaines and Sunny near Eldorado.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 342.3 miles (550.9 km) and usually takes 06h 39m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Tuscola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 171.2 miles from Des Plaines and 171.1 miles from Eldorado.

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

The direct path is about 293 miles (471.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.3 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.55 one way or $91.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 107.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Tuscola

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

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

RAIL

Illinois Terminal

35 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Mattoon station

36 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

58 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

66 mi away
379 Lynch Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Plaines and Eldorado. Straight-line distance: 293.03 mi (471.58 km).

Des Plaines

#1 Des Plaines

The most populous city in Cook County, Illinois.

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

#2 Eldorado

City in Saline County, Illinois, United States

Population3,837
Coordinates37.8136600, -88.4381000
Altitude119
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Plaines (-87.8834, 42.03336)
End: Eldorado (-88.4381, 37.81366)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 551 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 53m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.08 gal
45.72 L · about $45.55
Round trip
$91.11
24.16 gal · 91.44 L
Estimated CO2
107.4 kg one way
Round trip: 214.7 kg / 473 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $45.55 $91.11
Mid-grade $4.25 $51.38 $102.75
Premium $4.65 $56.22 $112.44
Diesel $5.30 $64.07 $128.14

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 Des Plaines and Eldorado. The current time is 06:04:23.

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.