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

The driving distance from Long Grove, IL to Des Plaines, IL is about 13.6 miles (21.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 11.6 miles (18.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 57m 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
13.63 mi
00h 28m
Flight
11.61 mi
18.68 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Long Grove.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
11.61 mi
Kilometers
18.68 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
13.63 mi
Kilometers
21.94 km
Drive Time
00h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Des Plaines
Fri, Apr 17, 10:58 PM CDT
Return by in Long Grove
Fri, Apr 17, 11:27 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Long Grove
2026-04-17T22:29
Arrive Des Plaines
Fri, Apr 17, 10:58 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:29 AM to 7:29 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:32 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Long 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
Prospect Heights
IL

City in Cook County, Illinois, United States

From Long Grove
6.6 mi
00h 14m
To Des Plaines
7 mi
00h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE
Destination
76°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Old McHenry Road

    1895 ft · 59 sec · North Old McHenry Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North State Route 53

    703 ft · 21 sec · North State Route 53

  3. 3

    Turn right onto McHenry Road

    3.7 mi · 7 min · McHenry Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North Elmhurst Road

    4.3 mi · 7 min · North Elmhurst Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto East Rand Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · East Rand Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Rand Road

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Rand Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · South Des Plaines River Road

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Henry Avenue

    557 ft · 24 sec · Henry Avenue

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Henry Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Long 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
9 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
66.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Elmhurst Road
4.33 mi · 32%
McHenry Road
3.69 mi · 27%
Rand Road
2.23 mi · 16%
East Rand Road
1.34 mi · 10%
South Des Plaines River Road
0.99 mi · 7%
North Old McHenry Road
0.36 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

North Elmhurst Road

Turn right onto North Elmhurst Road

4.33 mi · 00h 07m

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 28m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2 mi
11.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Prospect Heights
00h 14m from Long Grove
Leave By
7:32 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Long 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 Long Grove to Des Plaines?

The road trip is about 13.6 miles (21.9 km) and usually takes 00h 28m 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?

Prospect Heights is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.6 miles from Long Grove and 7 miles from Des Plaines.

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

The direct path is about 11.6 miles (18.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:32 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.81 one way or $3.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Prospect Heights

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

11 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

La Grange Road

32 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

34 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

Summit

35 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Long Grove and Des Plaines. Straight-line distance: 11.61 mi (18.68 km).

Long Grove

#1 Long Grove

City in Lake County, Illinois, United States

Population7,868
Coordinates42.1783600, -87.9978500
Altitude223
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: North Old McHenry Road (-87.997919, 42.178271)
End: Henry Avenue (-87.883408, 42.033456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 22 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.48 gal
1.82 L · about $1.81
Round trip
$3.62
0.96 gal · 3.64 L
Estimated CO2
4.3 kg one way
Round trip: 8.5 kg / 19 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $1.81 $3.62
Mid-grade $4.25 $2.04 $4.08
Premium $4.65 $2.23 $4.47
Diesel $5.30 $2.55 $5.09

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Long Grove and Des Plaines. The current time is 22:29:40.

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.