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

The driving distance from Somerset, IL to Des Plaines, IL is about 358.7 miles (577.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 304.1 miles (489.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
358.65 mi
05h 52m
Flight
304.07 mi
489.36 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Somerset.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
304.07 mi
Kilometers
489.36 km
Flight Time
00h 36m

Driving Distance

Road route
358.65 mi
Kilometers
577.19 km
Drive Time
05h 52m

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 05h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Des Plaines
Thu, Apr 16, 2:34 AM CDT
Return by in Somerset
Thu, Apr 16, 8:27 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Somerset
2026-04-15T20:42
Arrive Des Plaines
Thu, Apr 16, 2:34 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:53 AM to 1:53 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:14 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Somerset
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Arcola
IL

Township in Douglas County, Illinois

From Somerset
180.3 mi
02h 56m
To Des Plaines
178.4 mi
02h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
This Afternoon

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 PM CDT
Wind
14 mph SW
Destination
74°F
Today

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 7:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Somerset Road

    35 m · 12 sec · Somerset Road

  2. 2

    Turn sharp left onto Deneal Road

    1.2 mi · 5 min · Deneal Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Deneal Road

    1.4 mi · 5 min · Deneal Road

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    5.9 mi · 10 min

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn right onto South Commercial Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · South Commercial Street

  7. 7

    Turn left

    1 km · 51 sec

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    53 m · 5 sec

  9. 9

    Turn slight right onto North Main Street

    31.6 mi · 48 min · North Main Street

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Public Square

    124 m · 10 sec · West Main Street

  11. 11

    Exit the rotary onto West Main Street

    3144 ft · 55 sec · West Main Street

  12. 12

    Take the ramp slight right

    1685 ft · 41 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

    24 mi · 26 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    67.5 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    185.5 mi · 3 hr 21 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin

    1718 ft · 33 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    20.8 mi · 26 min · Tri-State Tollway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    11.7 mi · 15 min · Tri-State Tollway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Touhy Avenue

    635 ft · 16 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue

    2694 ft · 1 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on Touhy Avenue West

    688 ft · 17 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on Touhy Avenue West

    1799 ft · 44 sec

  24. 24

    Turn straight onto East Touhy Avenue

    99 m · 7 sec · East Touhy Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn slight right

    103 m · 9 sec

  26. 26

    Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Des Plaines River Road

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Henry Avenue

    557 ft · 24 sec · Henry Avenue

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Henry Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
185 mi · 52%
Ken Gray Expressway
91.4 mi · 25%
Tri-State Tollway
32.5 mi · 9%
North Main Street
31.6 mi · 9%
Deneal Road
8.5 mi · 2%
I 294 Toll North
1.78 mi
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

185 mi · 03h 21m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+54.6 mi
304.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Arcola
02h 56m from Somerset
Leave By
5:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Somerset and Showers And Thunderstorms near Des Plaines.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 358.7 miles (577.2 km) and usually takes 05h 52m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Arcola is a useful midpoint, sitting about 180.3 miles from Somerset and 178.4 miles from Des Plaines.

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

The direct path is about 304.1 miles (489.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.6 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:14 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $47.74 one way or $95.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 112.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Somerset and Showers And Thunderstorms near Des Plaines.

Stop Ideas Near Arcola

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

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

RAIL

Mattoon station

23 mi away
1718 Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

48 mi away
45 East University Ave.
RAIL

Effingham

66 mi away
401 West National Ave.
RAIL

Rantoul

71 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Somerset and Des Plaines. Straight-line distance: 304.07 mi (489.36 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Somerset

Unincorporated community in Illinois

Population3,955
Coordinates37.6544900, -88.4572700
Altitude139
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: Somerset Road (-88.457217, 37.65454)
End: Henry Avenue (-87.883408, 42.033456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 577 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.66 gal
47.91 L · about $47.74
Round trip
$95.48
25.32 gal · 95.82 L
Estimated CO2
112.5 kg one way
Round trip: 225 kg / 496 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $47.74 $95.48
Mid-grade $4.25 $53.84 $107.69
Premium $4.65 $58.92 $117.84
Diesel $5.30 $67.15 $134.30

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Somerset and Des Plaines. The current time is 20:42:04.

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.