How far is West Elsdon, IL from Des Plaines, IL?

The driving distance from West Elsdon, IL to Des Plaines, IL is about 33.5 miles (53.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 18.5 miles (29.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST.
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
33.47 mi
00h 47m
Flight
18.45 mi
29.69 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from West Elsdon.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
18.45 mi
Kilometers
29.69 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
33.47 mi
Kilometers
53.87 km
Drive Time
00h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Des Plaines
Sat, Nov 7, 7:02 AM CST
Return by in West Elsdon
Sat, Nov 7, 7:49 AM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave West Elsdon
2026-11-07T06:15
Arrive Des Plaines
Sat, Nov 7, 7:02 AM CST
Route Timing
00h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:47 AM to 10:47 AM CST

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

Leave by
4:56 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in West Elsdon
9:30 PM CST
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
Lincolnwood
IL

Village in United States of America

From West Elsdon
10.5 mi
00h 23m
To Des Plaines
22.9 mi
00h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM CST
Wind
5 mph WNW
Destination
51°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM CST
Wind
5 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Elsdon and Des Plaines.

  1. 1

    Start on South Komensky Avenue

    124 m · 20 sec · South Komensky Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West 54th Street

    102 m · 20 sec · West 54th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South Pulaski Road

    8.8 mi · 17 min · South Pulaski Road

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue

    52 m · 10 sec · West Belden Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Pulaski Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · North Pulaski Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North Milwaukee Avenue

    3.1 mi · 7 min · North Milwaukee Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn left onto North Northwest Highway

    21 m · 2 sec · North Northwest Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on North Northwest Highway

    4.1 mi · 8 min · North Northwest Highway

  9. 9

    Turn left onto West Touhy Avenue

    924 ft · 22 sec · West Touhy Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn slight right onto Busse Highway

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Busse Highway

  11. 11

    Turn slight left onto Oakton Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Oakton Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · South Des Plaines River Road

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Henry Avenue

    557 ft · 24 sec · Henry Avenue

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Henry Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between West Elsdon 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
14 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
41.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Pulaski Road
8.82 mi · 26%
North Northwest Highway
4.13 mi · 12%
North Milwaukee Avenue
3.1 mi · 9%
Busse Highway
1.54 mi · 5%
North Pulaski Road
1.28 mi · 4%
Oakton Street
1.07 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

South Pulaski Road

Turn left onto South Pulaski Road

8.82 mi · 00h 18m

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
00h 47m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15 mi
18.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lincolnwood
00h 23m from West Elsdon
Leave By
4:56 PM CST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving West Elsdon and Mostly Sunny near Des Plaines.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from West Elsdon to Des Plaines?

The road trip is about 33.5 miles (53.9 km) and usually takes 00h 47m 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?

Lincolnwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.5 miles from West Elsdon and 22.9 miles from Des Plaines.

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

The direct path is about 18.5 miles (29.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 15 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 CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:56 PM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.44 one way or $10.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around West Elsdon and Mostly Sunny near Des Plaines.

Stop Ideas Near Lincolnwood

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

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

RAIL

Glenview station

10 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

16 mi away
225 South Canal Street
RAIL

La Grange Road

24 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

25 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between West Elsdon and Des Plaines. Straight-line distance: 18.45 mi (29.69 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 West Elsdon

West Elsdon is a place in Illinois, United States.

Population0
Coordinates41.7939200, -87.7245000
Altitude184
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 Komensky Avenue (-87.724405, 41.793921)
End: Henry Avenue (-87.883408, 42.033456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 54 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.18 gal
4.47 L · about $5.44
Round trip
$10.87
2.36 gal · 8.94 L
Estimated CO2
10.5 kg one way
Round trip: 21 kg / 46 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.61 $5.44 $10.87
Mid-grade $5.24 $6.18 $12.37
Premium $5.79 $6.84 $13.67
Diesel $6.59 $7.78 $15.56

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 · Nov 06, 2026

There is no time difference between West Elsdon and Des Plaines. The current time is 06:15:02.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.