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

The driving distance from Des Plaines, IL to Moline, IL is about 163 miles (262.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 140.4 miles (226 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 29m 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
163.05 mi
03h 14m
Flight
140.4 mi
225.96 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
140.4 mi
Kilometers
225.96 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
163.05 mi
Kilometers
262.4 km
Drive Time
03h 14m

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 03h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Moline
Thu, Oct 15, 3:42 PM CDT
Return by in Des Plaines
Thu, Oct 15, 6:56 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Plaines
2026-10-15T12:27
Arrive Moline
Thu, Oct 15, 3:42 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 AM CDT

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

Leave by
10:30 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
Flagg
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Des Plaines
81.3 mi
01h 37m
To Moline
81.7 mi
01h 37m

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
57°F
Overnight

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    8.9 mi · 12 min · Tri-State Tollway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

    1.5 km · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1251 ft · 31 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  7. 7

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 88 West Toll: Aurora

    2633 ft · 50 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    1.2 km · 60 sec · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    25.1 mi · 30 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    69.5 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  12. 12

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    37.8 mi · 40 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    5.4 mi · 6 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    3.7 mi · 5 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 84 North, IL 92 West: Silvis

    6.1 mi · 15 min

  17. 17

    Turn left onto 19th Street

    109 m · 12 sec · 19th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto 5th Avenue

    1231 ft · 35 sec · 5th Avenue

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 5th Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
95.3 mi · 58%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38.9 mi · 24%
Tri-State Tollway
10 mi · 6%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9.11 mi · 6%
IL 84 North
6.09 mi · 4%
South Des Plaines River Road
1.77 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

69.5 mi · 01h 14m

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
03h 14m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.6 mi
140.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Flagg
01h 37m from Des Plaines
Leave By
10:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Des Plaines and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Moline.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 163 miles (262.4 km) and usually takes 03h 14m 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?

Flagg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 81.3 miles from Des Plaines and 81.7 miles from Moline.

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

The direct path is about 140.4 miles (226 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.6 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 10:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.82 one way or $53.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Des Plaines and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Moline.

Stop Ideas Near Flagg

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

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

RAIL

Mendota station

39 mi away
783 Main Street
BUS

Rockford, Illinois

43 mi away
7559 Walton St.
RAIL

Plano

56 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

Princeton

63 mi away
107 Bicentennial Dr.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Plaines and Moline. Straight-line distance: 140.4 mi (225.96 km).

Des Plaines

#1 Des Plaines

The most populous city in Cook County, Illinois.

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

#2 Moline

The largest city in Rock Island County, Illinois.

Population41,065
Coordinates41.5067000, -90.5151300
Altitude176
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Plaines (-87.8834, 42.03336)
End: Moline (-90.51513, 41.5067)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 262 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.75 gal
21.78 L · about $26.82
Round trip
$53.65
11.5 gal · 43.56 L
Estimated CO2
51.1 kg one way
Round trip: 102.2 kg / 225 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.67 $26.82 $53.65
Mid-grade $5.29 $30.43 $60.86
Premium $5.84 $33.56 $67.13
Diesel $6.57 $37.78 $75.57

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 Moline. The current time is 12:27:25.

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.