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

The driving distance from Morrison, IL to Des Plaines, IL is about 128.3 miles (206.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 108.1 miles (174 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 08m 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
128.33 mi
02h 04m
Flight
108.12 mi
174.01 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Morrison.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
108.12 mi
Kilometers
174.01 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
128.33 mi
Kilometers
206.53 km
Drive Time
02h 04m

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 02h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Des Plaines
Thu, Apr 23, 1:43 AM CDT
Return by in Morrison
Thu, Apr 23, 3:47 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Morrison
2026-04-22T23:38
Arrive Des Plaines
Thu, Apr 23, 1:43 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:04 AM to 12:04 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:22 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Morrison
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
Malta
IL

Village in Illinois, US

From Morrison
64.1 mi
01h 02m
To Des Plaines
64.2 mi
01h 02m

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 to 10 mph SE
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 Morrison and Des Plaines.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Cherry Street

    41 m · 13 sec · North Cherry Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Lincoln Way

    1.3 mi · 3 min · East Lincoln Way

  3. 3

    Continue on Lincoln Road

    9 mi · 12 min · Lincoln Road

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    1334 ft · 17 sec

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1581 ft · 20 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 88 East: Dixon

    1.4 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    7.2 mi · 8 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    91 mi · 1 hr 41 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 294 North, I 290 West: Milwaukee, Rockford

    3128 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 Toll North: O'Hare International Airport, Milwaukee

    1156 ft · 28 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    9.9 mi · 13 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Touhy Avenue

    635 ft · 16 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue

    2694 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue West

    688 ft · 17 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Touhy Avenue West

    1799 ft · 44 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue

    99 m · 7 sec · East Touhy Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn slight right

    103 m · 9 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Des Plaines River Road

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Henry Avenue

    557 ft · 24 sec · Henry Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Henry Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
21 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
95.7 mi · 75%
Tri-State Tollway
9.94 mi · 8%
Lincoln Road
9.56 mi · 7%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
7.16 mi · 6%
South Des Plaines River Road
1.71 mi · 1%
East Lincoln Way
1.33 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

91 mi · 01h 41m

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
02h 04m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.2 mi
108.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Malta
01h 02m from Morrison
Leave By
2:22 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Morrison 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 Morrison to Des Plaines?

The road trip is about 128.3 miles (206.5 km) and usually takes 02h 04m 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?

Malta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 64.1 miles from Morrison and 64.2 miles from Des Plaines.

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

The direct path is about 108.1 miles (174 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:22 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.08 one way or $34.17 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 40.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Malta

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

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

BUS

Rockford, Illinois

39 mi away
7559 Walton St.
RAIL

Plano

40 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

Mendota station

47 mi away
783 Main Street
RAIL

Naperville

62 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Morrison and Des Plaines. Straight-line distance: 108.12 mi (174.01 km).

Morrison

#1 Morrison

City in Whiteside County, Illinois, United States of America

Population3,950
Coordinates41.8097500, -89.9651200
Altitude207
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 Cherry Street (-89.964963, 41.8097)
End: Henry Avenue (-87.883408, 42.033456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 207 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.53 gal
17.14 L · about $17.08
Round trip
$34.17
9.06 gal · 34.28 L
Estimated CO2
40.3 kg one way
Round trip: 80.5 kg / 177 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $17.08 $34.17
Mid-grade $4.25 $19.27 $38.53
Premium $4.65 $21.08 $42.17
Diesel $5.30 $24.03 $48.05

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 Morrison and Des Plaines. The current time is 23:38:46.

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.