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

The driving distance from Des Plaines, IL to Freeport, IL is about 97.8 miles (157.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 90.8 miles (146.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 52m 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
97.79 mi
01h 56m
Flight
90.84 mi
146.19 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Des Plaines.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
90.84 mi
Kilometers
146.19 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
97.79 mi
Kilometers
157.37 km
Drive Time
01h 56m

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 01h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Freeport
Thu, Oct 15, 3:19 PM CDT
Return by in Des Plaines
Thu, Oct 15, 5:15 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Plaines
2026-10-15T13:23
Arrive Freeport
Thu, Oct 15, 3:19 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 AM CDT

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

Leave by
2:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Des Plaines
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
Belvidere
IL

City in Illinois

From Des Plaines
48.8 mi
00h 58m
To Freeport
49 mi
00h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
63°F
Thursday

Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Henry Avenue

    80 m · 17 sec · Henry Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto White Street

    650 ft · 33 sec · White Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Algonquin Road

    2758 ft · 2 min · East Algonquin Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Lee Street

    2696 ft · 51 sec · Lee Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto East Oakton Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · East Oakton Street

  6. 6

    Continue on West Oakton Street

    1 mi · 2 min · West Oakton Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto South Elmhurst Road

    1116 ft · 27 sec · South Elmhurst Road

  8. 8

    Take the ramp straight toward I 90 West Toll: Rockford

    3013 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    55.3 mi · 59 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington

    1.1 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight right

    2475 ft · 30 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    29.6 mi · 34 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 20 BUS: Freeport

    3.6 mi · 6 min

  15. 15

    Turn slight right onto South Galena Avenue

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Galena Avenue

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Galena Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
16 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
55.3 mi · 57%
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
29.6 mi · 30%
US 20 BUS
3.58 mi · 4%
I-39 South
3.26 mi · 3%
South Galena Avenue
1.69 mi · 2%
East Oakton Street
1.35 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

55.3 mi · 00h 59m

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
01h 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7 mi
90.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Belvidere
00h 58m from Des Plaines
Leave By
2:38 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Des Plaines and Rain Showers near Freeport.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 97.8 miles (157.4 km) and usually takes 01h 56m 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?

Belvidere is a useful midpoint, sitting about 48.8 miles from Des Plaines and 49 miles from Freeport.

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

The direct path is about 90.8 miles (146.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:38 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.09 one way or $32.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Des Plaines and Rain Showers near Freeport.

Stop Ideas Near Belvidere

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

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

BUS

Rockford, Illinois

11 mi away
7559 Walton St.
BUS

South Beloit, Illinois

28 mi away
15766 Manchester Road
BUS

Janesville, Wisconsin

52 mi away
3120 North Pontiac Drive
RAIL

Plano

72 mi away
101 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Plaines and Freeport. Straight-line distance: 90.84 mi (146.19 km).

Des Plaines

#1 Des Plaines

The most populous city in Cook County, Illinois.

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

#2 Freeport

City in Illinois

Population23,447
Coordinates42.2966900, -89.6212300
Altitude237
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Plaines (-87.8834, 42.03336)
End: Freeport (-89.62123, 42.29669)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 157 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.45 gal
13.06 L · about $16.09
Round trip
$32.19
6.9 gal · 26.12 L
Estimated CO2
30.7 kg one way
Round trip: 61.3 kg / 135 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $16.09 $32.19
Mid-grade $5.29 $18.26 $36.51
Premium $5.84 $20.14 $40.28
Diesel $6.57 $22.67 $45.34

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Des Plaines and Freeport. The current time is 13:23:17.

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.