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

The driving distance from Des Plaines, IL to Jonesboro, IL is about 361.1 miles (581.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 325 miles (523 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 28m 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
361.14 mi
06h 44m
Flight
324.98 mi
523.01 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
324.98 mi
Kilometers
523.01 km
Flight Time
00h 39m

Driving Distance

Road route
361.14 mi
Kilometers
581.2 km
Drive Time
06h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Jonesboro
Fri, May 1, 10:20 PM CDT
Return by in Des Plaines
Sat, May 2, 5:05 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Plaines
2026-05-01T15:36
Arrive Jonesboro
Fri, May 1, 10:20 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:44 PM to 2:14 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
10:32 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

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
Arcola
IL

Township in Douglas County, Illinois

From Des Plaines
180.7 mi
03h 22m
To Jonesboro
180.4 mi
03h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph N
Destination
64°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    61.7 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 146: Anna, Vienna

    1311 ft · 35 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto 770N

    118 m · 7 sec · 770N

  19. 19

    Continue on East Vienna Street

    5.8 mi · 8 min · East Vienna Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Broad Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Broad Street

  21. 21

    Turn slight right onto Public Square

    20 m · 1 sec · Public Square

  22. 22

    Turn right

    49 m · 12 sec

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
7 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 · 71%
Ken Gray Expressway
61.7 mi · 17%
Tri-State Tollway
28.3 mi · 8%
East Vienna Street
5.76 mi · 2%
Cicero Avenue
4.89 mi · 1%
South Des Plaines River Road
1.77 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

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 44m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.1 mi
325 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arcola
03h 22m from Des Plaines
Leave By
10:32 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Des Plaines and Partly Sunny near Jonesboro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 361.1 miles (581.2 km) and usually takes 06h 44m 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?

Arcola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 180.7 miles from Des Plaines and 180.4 miles from Jonesboro.

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

The direct path is about 325 miles (523 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.1 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 $48.04 one way or $96.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 113.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Arcola

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

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

RAIL

Mattoon station

23 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

48 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Effingham

66 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

71 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Plaines and Jonesboro. Straight-line distance: 324.98 mi (523.01 km).

Des Plaines

#1 Des Plaines

The most populous city in Cook County, Illinois.

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

#2 Jonesboro

City in Union County, Illinois, United States

Population1,677
Coordinates37.4517200, -89.2681400
Altitude172
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Plaines (-87.8834, 42.03336)
End: Jonesboro (-89.26814, 37.45172)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 581 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.74 gal
48.24 L · about $48.04
Round trip
$96.09
25.48 gal · 96.48 L
Estimated CO2
113.2 kg one way
Round trip: 226.4 kg / 499 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $48.04 $96.09
Mid-grade $4.25 $54.18 $108.37
Premium $4.65 $59.29 $118.58
Diesel $5.30 $67.57 $135.15

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 · May 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Des Plaines and Jonesboro. The current time is 15:36:53.

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.