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

The driving distance from Manhattan, IL to Des Plaines, IL is about 55 miles (88.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 42.6 miles (68.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
54.99 mi
01h 03m
Flight
42.53 mi
68.45 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Manhattan.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
42.53 mi
Kilometers
68.45 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
54.99 mi
Kilometers
88.49 km
Drive Time
01h 03m

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 01h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Des Plaines
Thu, Apr 23, 12:22 AM CDT
Return by in Manhattan
Thu, Apr 23, 1:25 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Manhattan
2026-04-22T23:18
Arrive Des Plaines
Thu, Apr 23, 12:22 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:03 AM to 11:03 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:24 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Manhattan
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Darien
IL

Town in Connecticut

From Manhattan
25.4 mi
00h 31m
To Des Plaines
29.6 mi
00h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph ENE
Destination
69°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South State Street

    82 m · 8 sec · South State Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Wabash Street

    594 ft · 27 sec · South Wabash Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East North Street

    2997 ft · 1 min · East North Street

  4. 4

    Continue on West Manhattan-Monee Road

    1 km · 1 min · West Manhattan-Monee Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto South Cedar Road

    6 mi · 10 min · South Cedar Road

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Cedar Road

    42 m · 3 sec · North Cedar Road

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto North Cedar Road

    2.5 mi · 6 min · North Cedar Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Maple Road

    1060 ft · 18 sec · Maple Road

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 355 Toll North: West Suburbs

    3244 ft · 57 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway

    10.9 mi · 12 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 North: Chicago

    1.2 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    6.9 mi · 9 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Tollway North: Wisconsin

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 North: Wisconsin

    1694 ft · 41 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    11.7 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Touhy Avenue

    635 ft · 16 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue

    2694 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue West

    688 ft · 17 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Touhy Avenue West

    1799 ft · 44 sec

  21. 21

    Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue

    99 m · 7 sec · East Touhy Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn slight right

    103 m · 9 sec

  23. 23

    Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Des Plaines River Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Henry Avenue

    557 ft · 24 sec · Henry Avenue

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Henry Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Manhattan 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
25 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
45.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
16.6 mi · 30%
Veterans Memorial Tollway
10.9 mi · 20%
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
6.92 mi · 13%
South Cedar Road
6.01 mi · 11%
North Cedar Road
2.52 mi · 5%
South Des Plaines River Road
1.71 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

11.7 mi · 00h 15m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 03m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.4 mi
42.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Darien
00h 31m from Manhattan
Leave By
4:24 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Manhattan and Sunny near Des Plaines.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 55 miles (88.5 km) and usually takes 01h 03m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Darien is a useful midpoint, sitting about 25.4 miles from Manhattan and 29.6 miles from Des Plaines.

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

The direct path is about 42.6 miles (68.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:24 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.32 one way or $14.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Darien

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

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

RAIL

La Grange Road

11 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

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

Naperville

15 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

27 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Manhattan and Des Plaines. Straight-line distance: 42.53 mi (68.45 km).

Manhattan

#1 Manhattan

Village in Illinois

Population8,798
Coordinates41.4225300, -87.9858900
Altitude208
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 State Street (-87.98598, 41.422495)
End: Henry Avenue (-87.883408, 42.033456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 88 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.94 gal
7.34 L · about $7.32
Round trip
$14.63
3.88 gal · 14.68 L
Estimated CO2
17.2 kg one way
Round trip: 34.5 kg / 76 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.32 $14.63
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.25 $16.50
Premium $4.65 $9.03 $18.06
Diesel $5.30 $10.29 $20.58

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 Manhattan and Des Plaines. The current time is 23:18:40.

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.