Overview
Des Plaines is in Chicagoland. It is an inner-ring, northwest suburb of Chicago with two distinct portions: a suburban northern portion reminiscient of other, nearby northwest suburbs (including Niles, Park Ridge, and Mount Prospect), as well as a built-up southern portion with the businesses, hotels, and other amenities of the O'Hare Airport corridor (much like Rosemont, Chicago's O'Hare neighborhood, and Elk Grove Village).
3 sights · 5 things to do · 5 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Des Plaines
Kinder House Museum
Benjamin F. Kinder, owner of a hardware store, built a house in 1907. The Kinder family lived here until the 1960s, and the house was already viewed as a historical building of Des Plaines by 1969. The significance of th…
Lake Opeka
A scenic lake along Touhy Ave near O'Hare Airport.
Maine North High School Bldg
Maine North High School had a short life as a school, shutting down in 1981. But it is permanently memorialized as the filming location for two of John Hughes' most famous high school movies. During the spring of 1984, t…
Des Plaines River Trail
Being in Des Plaines gives you access to this recreational multi-use trail that follows the course of the Des Plaines River all the way up to Wisconsin.
Rivers Casino
Lake Park
This park offers access to boating, fishing, and an 18-hole, par-3 golf course on the shores of Lake Opeka.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 20°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Jun. (climate data from nearby Chicago)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ORD Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago — 4 mi away (major hub). Directions
- MDW Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago — 19 mi away (major hub). Directions
Des Plaines is served by two stations on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line: Des Plaines and Cumberland. Frequent service (as well as some express trains) between 6:40AM and 1:15AM during the week, with less frequent service on weekends.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $79–$90 a night (typical $90), from 3 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $8 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$110, mid-range ~$140, comfortable ~$200.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Kinder House Museum, Golf Center Des Plaines, Maine North High School Bldg
- Lunch Boston Fish Market
- Afternoon Lake Park, Lake Opeka
- Dinner Paradise Pup
- Evening Miner Street Tavern
Day 2
- Morning Rivers Casino
- Lunch Dotombori
- Afternoon Des Plaines River Trail
- Dinner Giacomo's
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By train
Des Plaines is served by two stations on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line: Des Plaines and Cumberland. Frequent service (as well as some express trains) between 6:40AM and 1:15AM during the week, with less frequent service on weekends.
By car
Des Plaines is easily accessible from anywhere in the country through Interstate 90 and Interstate 294. Both Interstates are toll-roads. Numerous local roads pass through Des Plaines from all directions.
By plane
The nearest airport is O'Hare International Airport, which borders Des Plaines. The Chicago Executive Airport is another option. Directly from O'Hare, you can take the 250 Pace bus to many parts of Des Plaines including downtown.
Get around
The combination of superior air transportation, good railroads, and a network of expressways continues to foster full development of Des Plaines. Bus, rail commuter, and taxis services are all accessible to and from Des Plaines.
The Metra Train Service provides Des Plaines commuter train service to downtown Chicago. The Union Pacific Northwest Line is the Primary route that goes through Des Plaines.
Bus service is provided by Pace Bus Service.
See
See Kinder House Museum
Benjamin F. Kinder, owner of a hardware store, built a house in 1907. The Kinder family lived here until the 1960s, and the house was already viewed as a historical building of Des Plaines by 1969. The significance of the Kinder House comes from its past inhabitants and architectural style. Benjamin Kinder was the owner of one of the city’s longest-standing businesses, and his son George served as Des Plaines’ third mayor.
See Maine North High School Bldg
Maine North High School had a short life as a school, shutting down in 1981. But it is permanently memorialized as the filming location for two of John Hughes' most famous high school movies. During the spring of 1984, the school was used in the filming of the 1985 movie The Breakfast Club. In 1986, the interior of the building was used in the filming of Ferris Bueller's Day Off (while the exterior shots took place at Glenbrook North High School). The building is now a district headquarters for the Illinois State Police, Cook County 911 Dispatch Center, Illinois Lottery and offices for other state agencies. The only reminder of the filming is a plaque inside the building, downstairs. Maine North is located in unincorporated Maine North township.
Do
Do Des Plaines River Trail
Being in Des Plaines gives you access to this recreational multi-use trail that follows the course of the Des Plaines River all the way up to Wisconsin.
Do Lake Park
This park offers access to boating, fishing, and an 18-hole, par-3 golf course on the shores of Lake Opeka.
Eat
Eat Boston Fish Market
Legendary seafood restaurant hidden away on a dead end street. If you come on a nice summer evening, be prepared to wait up to an hour. Even in bad weather, wait time can be around 20 minutes.
Eat Dotombori
A little pricey, but happy hour is 5-6PM, and sushi is half-price.
Eat Giacomo's
Family-owned. Has great Italian-American food.
Eat Dung Gia - Annam
Authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
Eat Paradise Pup
Featured on Guy Fieri's television show, this burger joint attracts a lot of people so be prepared to wait in line.
Drink
Drink Miner Street Tavern
Neighborhood bar full of locals. Occasional theme parties that are too hilarious too miss. Cheap drinks and daily specials. Small, narrow, and dark. Dart board and juke box make for a good time.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Nearby
Mount Prospect
City / town · 3 listings · 3 mi away
Rosemont
City / town · 26 listings · 3 mi away
Park Ridge
City / town · 12 listings · 3 mi away
Niles
City / town · 7 listings · 5 mi away
Arlington Heights
City / town · 11 listings · 5 mi away
Glenview
City / town · 14 listings · 5 mi away
Elk Grove Village
City / town · 10 listings · 5 mi away
Schiller Park
City / town · 4 listings · 6 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.