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Major city · United States

Des Plaines

Give Des Plaines one night as an O'Hare base, not a sightseeing stop: Metra to downtown Chicago takes about 35 min, and the draw here is cheap beds and a casino.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Oct
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, snow), late Nov–Feb
Airports
ORD · PWK
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Des Plaines is an inner-ring northwest suburb of Chicago with two halves: a quiet residential north and a hotel-and-business strip along the O'Hare corridor in the south. It works as a cheaper, quieter place to sleep near the airport, with a commuter rail line into downtown Chicago, a river trail and a casino. It is not a destination in itself.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Des Plaines, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Street or quick mealBurger or sandwich$10–18
  • BeerDraught beer at a bar$6–9
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–30
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$150
  • Mid-range bedAirport-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$140
  • High-end bedAirport-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$240

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$190

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

O'Hare airport hotelsRivers CasinoDes Plaines River TrailMetra Union Pacific Northwest LineThe Breakfast Club filming site
Airports
ORD O'Hare International (Borders the city; Pace bus 250 runs from the airport into Des Plaines, and many hotels run a free shuttle.) · PWK Chicago Executive (Smaller field near Wheeling; mostly private and business flights.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Des Plaines: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

0°C

−8°C

10 rd

Feb

3°C

−6°C

9 rd

Mar

9°C

−1°C

11 rd

Apr

16°C

5°C

12 rd

May

22°C

10°C

11 rd

Jun

27°C

16°C

10 rd

Jul

29°C

19°C

10 rd

Aug

28°C

18°C

9 rd

Sep

24°C

14°C

9 rd

Oct

17°C

7°C

9 rd

Nov

9°C

1°C

10 rd

Dec

2°C

−5°C

11 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line runs from downtown Des Plaines to Chicago in about 35 min, with frequent weekday service and less on weekends. Pace buses cover local routes, including the 250 from O'Hare. A car is the practical way to reach the casino, the river trail and neighbouring suburbs; I-90 and I-294 are both toll roads.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Chicago Loopgo

Door to door: About 35–45 min

Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line from downtown Des Plaines

Weekday trains are frequent; check the last train back before you plan a late night.

Rosemont

go

Door to door: About 15 min

Short drive or Pace bus

Entertainment district, arena and the Blue Line into Chicago.

Park Ridge

go

Door to door: About 10–15 min

Drive or Metra one stop

Walkable uptown with cafés and a small-town main street.

Schaumburg

caution

Door to door: About 25–35 min

Drive on I-90

Malls and big-box shopping; only worth it if you want retail.

Arlington Heights

go

Door to door: About 20–30 min

Metra UP-NW northwest, or drive

Downtown dining and a walkable core.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

O'Hare corridor (Touhy Ave and S River Rd)

Airport hotels with shuttles, the casino and the big seafood restaurant; best for one night with a flight.

Downtown Des Plaines (Miner St)

Walkable to the Metra station, library, bars and restaurants; best if you want the train into Chicago.

North Des Plaines (Golf Rd and River Rd)

Quieter, more residential, near the golf center; needs a car.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–100 excl. bed
Mid
$100–170 excl. bed
High
$170+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Airport-hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$140US$140
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110US$220
Metra round trip to Chicago2 × US$12 · checkUS$24
Pace bus fare, one ride2 × US$2 · checkUS$4
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$42
Trip total≈ US$230 per person per day, bed includedUS$460

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights and rental car excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Burger or sandwich$10–18
Seafood plate at Boston Fish Market$15–30
Draught beer at a bar$6–9
Metra ride to Chicago$6–7 (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–30

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A safe, quiet suburb; the real risks are winter driving, toll-road fines and late-night bar tabs. Petty theft from cars happens in hotel lots, so leave nothing visible.
  • I-90 and I-294 are toll roads: rent a transponder or pay online after the fact.
  • Winter runs cold with snow and ice; allow extra time for any drive to O'Hare.
  • Suburban blocks are spread out and pavements are patchy: a car or a bus beats walking between sights.
  • Casino and bar tabs add up; set a limit before you sit down.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Des Plaines police non-emergency
847-391-5400
Poison control
800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Des PlainesDes Plaines

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Des Plaines police non-emergency847-391-5400
  • Poison control800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies here; they are in Washington, DC, with consulates in Chicago. Belize keeps an honorary consulate at 780 Lee St, Unit 109.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Metra Des Plaines → Chicago: about $6–7, about 35 min (check)
  • Pace bus 250 from O'Hare: about $2, pay exact change or app (check)
  • Taxi or rideshare, O'Hare → Touhy Ave hotels: $15–25

Say or show

  • Where is the Metra station? — Where is the Metra station?
  • Does this hotel run an airport shuttle? — Does this hotel run an airport shuttle?
  • How much is the fare? — How much is the fare?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
  • Thanks, keep the change. — Thanks, keep the change.

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Des Plaines. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, snow), late Nov–Feb · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for ORD: last Metra and Pace departures, hotel shuttle cutoffs, taxi fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown Miner St, the Metra station, the Touhy Ave hotel strip, the casino and Lake Park.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Kinder House Museum, Des Plaines Public Library, Lake Opeka) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and flight-delay fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources