Origin
Glendale Heights, IL
Evening in Glendale Heights on Sunday
Local time
5:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glendale Heights, IL to Palatine, IL
Drive Time
25m
Distance
16.1 mi
26 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glendale Heights, IL
Choco Kitty
Palatine, IL
Claudia Solano
Trip Overview
The drive from Glendale Heights, IL to Palatine, IL covers 16.1 miles and takes about 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 290, I 355, IL 53 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.6 miles on I 290. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.45 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8 miles from Glendale Heights, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 25m highway drive covering 16.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 290 and I 355. The longest continuous stretch is about 5.6 miles on I 290.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 5.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 290 and I 355. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Winthrop Avenue.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 16.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Winthrop Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Winthrop Avenue
Turn left onto Winthrop Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
6
11.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
13.6 mi into trip
|
~20m 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
16.1 mi into trip
|
~25m 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 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| I 355 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| IL 53 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Hicks Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Glen Ellyn Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| West Army Trail Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Army Trail Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Northwest Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 5.6 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glendale Heights, IL and Palatine, IL.
1
Start on Highland Avenue
83 ft
·
10 sec
·
Highland Avenue
2
Turn left onto Winthrop Avenue
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Winthrop Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto Glen Ellyn Road
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Glen Ellyn Road
4
Turn right onto East Army Trail Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Army Trail Road
5
Continue on West Army Trail Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Army Trail Road
Use the left / none lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 355
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
I 355
Use the none lane.
8
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 53
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward Kirchoff Road
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Kirchoff Road
12
Turn right onto West Frontage Road
400 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Frontage Road
13
Continue on Hicks Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Hicks Road
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left onto US 14
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Northwest Highway
15
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Palatine Road
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
East Palatine Road
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 8 miles from Glendale Heights, IL, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 16.1 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palatine, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Glendale Heights, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Glendale Heights, IL
This is one driving day of about 16.1 miles and 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Glendale Heights, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 290 for about 5.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8 mi from Glendale Heights, IL · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8 miles from Glendale Heights, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Palatine, IL
The final approach into Palatine, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Palatine, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.45 one way
$4.89 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.70 | $5.39 |
| premium | $4.80 | $3.04 | $6.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.58 | $7.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.41 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.25 | $1.03 |
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
Evening in Palatine on Sunday
Local time
5:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
9 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
25m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Glendale Heights, IL to Palatine, IL covers 16.1 miles and takes about 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 290, I 355, IL 53. 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 miles from Glendale Heights, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.45 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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 16.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Winthrop Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Glendale Heights, IL to Palatine, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Palatine, IL
More from Glendale Heights, IL
More trips to Palatine, IL
Explore more options from Glendale Heights, IL or browse trips ending in Palatine, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Glendale Heights, IL or Palatine, IL on MapSof.net.