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

The driving distance from Des Plaines, IL to Valmeyer, IL is about 325 miles (523 km), with a travel time of about 06h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 286.8 miles (461.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 22m 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
325 mi
06h 11m
Flight
286.85 mi
461.64 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
286.85 mi
Kilometers
461.64 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
325 mi
Kilometers
523.04 km
Drive Time
06h 11m

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 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Valmeyer
Thu, Apr 23, 12:34 PM CDT
Return by in Des Plaines
Thu, Apr 23, 6:45 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Plaines
2026-04-23T06:22
Arrive Valmeyer
Thu, Apr 23, 12:34 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:11 PM to 1:41 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
11:38 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
Lawndale
IL

Unincorporated community in Illinois, United States

From Des Plaines
162.6 mi
03h 05m
To Valmeyer
162.5 mi
03h 05m

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
81°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis

    1 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    2295 ft · 56 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    119.4 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

    64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    82 mi · 1 hr 29 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 255: Memphis, Interstate 270

    1386 ft · 34 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 255 South: Memphis

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    17.2 mi · 20 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight left toward IL 3 South: Columbia

    12.3 mi · 15 min

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Park Street

    110 m · 7 sec · Park Street

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Park Street

    38 m · 3 sec · Park Street

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto Park Street

    2716 ft · 54 sec · Park Street

  19. 19

    Continue on IL 156

    6.4 mi · 11 min · IL 156

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · IL 156

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 South
147 mi · 45%
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
119 mi · 37%
I 255 South
18.3 mi · 6%
Tri-State Tollway
17.5 mi · 5%
IL 3 South
12.3 mi · 4%
IL 156
6.42 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

119 mi · 02h 13m

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 11m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.2 mi
286.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lawndale
03h 05m from Des Plaines
Leave By
11:38 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Des Plaines and Mostly Sunny near Valmeyer.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 325 miles (523 km) and usually takes 06h 11m 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?

Lawndale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.6 miles from Des Plaines and 162.5 miles from Valmeyer.

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

The direct path is about 286.8 miles (461.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.2 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 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 $43.25 one way or $86.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Lawndale

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Lawndale and the surrounding midpoint area.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
Scenic stop 4.9 mi away

Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!

Atlanta , IL
865 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL 61723, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Tourist attraction
City of Lincoln
Meeting point 6.1 mi away

City of Lincoln

Lincoln , IL
700 Broadway St, Lincoln, IL 62656
Rating 3.8/5 4 reviews City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lawndale.

RAIL

Lincoln

10 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Uptown Station

41 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Springfield station

56 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

61 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Plaines and Valmeyer. Straight-line distance: 286.85 mi (461.64 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 Valmeyer

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

Population1,238
Coordinates38.3056100, -90.2765100
Altitude224
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Plaines (-87.8834, 42.03336)
End: Valmeyer (-90.27651, 38.30561)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 523 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.47 gal
43.41 L · about $43.25
Round trip
$86.51
22.94 gal · 86.82 L
Estimated CO2
101.9 kg one way
Round trip: 203.9 kg / 450 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $43.25 $86.51
Mid-grade $4.25 $48.78 $97.56
Premium $4.65 $53.38 $106.76
Diesel $5.30 $60.84 $121.67

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 Valmeyer. The current time is 06:22:40.

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.