How far is Des Plaines, IL from Lincoln Square, IL?

The driving distance from Des Plaines, IL to Lincoln Square, IL is about 11.9 miles (19.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 10.7 miles (17.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
11.95 mi
00h 21m
Flight
10.73 mi
17.27 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Des Plaines.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
10.73 mi
Kilometers
17.27 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
11.95 mi
Kilometers
19.23 km
Drive Time
00h 21m

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 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lincoln Square
Sun, Nov 8, 1:59 PM CST
Return by in Des Plaines
Sun, Nov 8, 2:20 PM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Plaines
2026-11-08T13:38
Arrive Lincoln Square
Sun, Nov 8, 1:59 PM CST
Route Timing
00h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CST
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:21 AM to 7:21 PM CST

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:48 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Des Plaines
10:00 PM CST
Flexible departure

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
Niles
IL

City in Trumbull County, Ohio

From Des Plaines
6 mi
00h 10m
To Lincoln Square
6 mi
00h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Nov 8 6:00 AM CST
Wind
10 to 15 mph W
Destination
55°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Nov 8 6:00 AM CST
Wind
5 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines and Lincoln Square.

  1. 1

    Start on Henry Avenue

    557 ft · 25 sec · Henry Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · South Des Plaines River Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Oakton Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Oakton Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Busse Highway

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Busse Highway

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto West Touhy Avenue

    2.3 mi · 4 min · West Touhy Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right onto North Caldwell Avenue

    2.4 mi · 4 min · North Caldwell Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on North Caldwell Avenue

    794 ft · 13 sec · North Caldwell Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on West Peterson Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · West Peterson Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn slight right onto North Lincoln Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · North Lincoln Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left onto West Foster Avenue

    852 ft · 15 sec · West Foster Avenue

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Foster Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
92.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Caldwell Avenue
2.51 mi · 21%
West Touhy Avenue
2.29 mi · 19%
West Peterson Avenue
2.25 mi · 19%
Busse Highway
1.54 mi · 13%
North Lincoln Avenue
1.37 mi · 11%
East Oakton Street
1.07 mi · 9%
Longest Stretch

North Caldwell Avenue

Turn right onto North Caldwell Avenue

2.36 mi · 00h 04m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 21m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.2 mi
10.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Niles
00h 10m from Des Plaines
Leave By
7:48 PM CST
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Des Plaines and Sunny near Lincoln Square.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Des Plaines to Lincoln Square?

The road trip is about 11.9 miles (19.2 km) and usually takes 00h 21m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Niles is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6 miles from Des Plaines and 6 miles from Lincoln Square.

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

The direct path is about 10.7 miles (17.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.2 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:48 PM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.90 one way or $3.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Niles

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

6 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

21 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

23 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

25 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Plaines and Lincoln Square. Straight-line distance: 10.73 mi (17.27 km).

Des Plaines

#1 Des Plaines

The most populous city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population58,179
Coordinates42.0333600, -87.8834000
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Lincoln Square

Lincoln Square is a place in Illinois, United States.

Population0
Coordinates41.9758700, -87.6892200
Altitude185
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Plaines (-87.8834, 42.03336)
End: Lincoln Square (-87.68922, 41.97587)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 19 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.42 gal
1.6 L · about $1.90
Round trip
$3.80
0.84 gal · 3.2 L
Estimated CO2
3.7 kg one way
Round trip: 7.5 kg / 17 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.52 $1.90 $3.80
Mid-grade $5.15 $2.16 $4.32
Premium $5.71 $2.40 $4.79
Diesel $6.53 $2.74 $5.49

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 08, 2026

There is no time difference between Des Plaines and Lincoln Square. The current time is 13:38:07.

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.