Origin
Elmhurst, IL
Morning in Elmhurst on Friday
Local time
11:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, IL to Palatine, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
17.5 mi
28 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Palatine, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 17.5-mile drive from Elmhurst, IL, to Palatine, IL, will take you about 26 minutes, making it an easy day trip. With a projected fuel cost of just $3, it's an economical journey. The route is primarily highway-focused, so expect a direct and efficient commute. Given its short distance and quick travel time, no overnight stay is necessary. This trip stays within the Midwest region, offering a familiar driving experience.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 17.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 76% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I 290, including an uninterrupted stretch of 11.1 miles. The transition to IL 53 and then Hicks Road will bring you off the interstate for the final leg. While not a scenic tour, it offers a consistent pace for efficient travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 290 is the longest continuous segment at about 11.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 290 and IL 53. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 17.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North York Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North York Street
Turn left onto North York Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
12.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
15.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward Kirchoff Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Kirchoff Road
6
17.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
East Palatine Road
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 11.1 mi | 14m |
| IL 53 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Hicks Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| North York Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Northwest Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kirchoff Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Frontage Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Park Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 11.1 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, IL and Palatine, IL.
1
Start on this road
267 ft
·
25 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
51 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
362 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Park Avenue
4
Turn left onto North York Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North York Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 290
11 mi
·
14 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward Kirchoff Road
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Kirchoff Road
10
Turn right onto West Frontage Road
400 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Frontage Road
11
Continue on Hicks Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Hicks Road
12
Turn left onto US 14
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Northwest Highway
13
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Palatine Road
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
East Palatine Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.74 one way
$5.47 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.00 | $6.01 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.37 | $6.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.86 | $7.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.84 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.53 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.45 | $1.12 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Palatine, IL
Morning in Palatine on Friday
Local time
11:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph
38% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:30AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:30AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
26m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Elmhurst, IL to Palatine, IL covers 17.5 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 290, IL 53, Hicks Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.8 miles from Elmhurst, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.74 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 17.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North York Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Elmhurst, IL to Palatine, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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