How far is Elk Grove, IL from Des Plaines, IL?

The driving distance from Elk Grove, IL to Des Plaines, IL is about 4.9 miles (7.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 3.4 miles (5.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
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
4.93 mi
00h 12m
Flight
3.44 mi
5.53 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Elk Grove.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
3.44 mi
Kilometers
5.53 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
4.93 mi
Kilometers
7.94 km
Drive Time
00h 12m

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 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Des Plaines
Fri, Aug 7, 11:07 PM CDT
Return by in Elk Grove
Fri, Aug 7, 11:19 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Elk Grove
2026-08-07T22:54
Arrive Des Plaines
Fri, Aug 7, 11:07 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:12 AM to 7:12 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:06 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Elk Grove
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Elk Grove Village
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Elk Grove
2.3 mi
00h 06m
To Des Plaines
2.6 mi
00h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Aug 7 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW
Destination
84°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Aug 7 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Elk Grove and Des Plaines.

  1. 1

    Start on South Elmhurst Road

    71 m · 12 sec · South Elmhurst Road

  2. 2

    Continue on South Elmhurst Road

    119 m · 13 sec · South Elmhurst Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West Touhy Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · West Touhy Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto South Mount Prospect Road

    1 mi · 2 min · South Mount Prospect Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto East Oakton Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · East Oakton Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Lee Street

    2735 ft · 59 sec · Lee Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto East Algonquin Road

    2758 ft · 2 min · East Algonquin Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto White Street

    650 ft · 30 sec · White Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Henry Avenue

    80 m · 12 sec · Henry Avenue

  10. 10

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Henry Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
10 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
204.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East Oakton Street
1.35 mi · 27%
South Mount Prospect Road
1.04 mi · 21%
West Touhy Avenue
0.93 mi · 19%
East Algonquin Road
0.52 mi · 11%
Lee Street
0.52 mi · 10%
White Street
0.12 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

East Oakton Street

Turn right onto East Oakton Street

1.35 mi · 00h 03m

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 12m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.5 mi
3.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Elk Grove Village
00h 06m from Elk Grove
Leave By
8:06 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Elk Grove and Partly Sunny near Des Plaines.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Elk Grove to Des Plaines?

The road trip is about 4.9 miles (7.9 km) and usually takes 00h 12m 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?

Elk Grove Village is a useful midpoint, sitting about 2.3 miles from Elk Grove and 2.6 miles from Des Plaines.

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

The direct path is about 3.4 miles (5.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.5 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:06 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $0.64 one way or $1.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 1.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Elk Grove and Partly Sunny near Des Plaines.

Stop Ideas Near Elk Grove Village

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Elk Grove Village, 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 Elk Grove Village.

RAIL

Glenview station

16 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

23 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

27 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

Naperville

29 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Elk Grove and Des Plaines. Straight-line distance: 3.44 mi (5.53 km).

Elk Grove

#1 Elk Grove

Township in Cook County, Illinois

Population31,831
Coordinates42.0072500, -87.9403400
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Des Plaines

#2 Des Plaines

The most populous city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population58,179
Coordinates42.0333600, -87.8834000
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
Start: South Elmhurst Road (-87.940348, 42.00725)
End: Henry Avenue (-87.883408, 42.033456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 8 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.17 gal
0.66 L · about $0.64
Round trip
$1.28
0.34 gal · 1.32 L
Estimated CO2
1.5 kg one way
Round trip: 3 kg / 7 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $0.64 $1.28
Mid-grade $4.25 $0.72 $1.45
Premium $4.65 $0.79 $1.58
Diesel $5.30 $0.90 $1.80

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 · Aug 08, 2026

There is no time difference between Elk Grove and Des Plaines. The current time is 22:54:48.

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.