Origin
Palatine, IL
Evening in Palatine on Sunday
Local time
5:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palatine, IL to Carpentersville, IL
Drive Time
21m
Distance
12.9 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palatine, IL
Claudia Solano
Carpentersville, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick jaunt from Palatine to Carpentersville, Illinois, you are looking at a brief 12.9-mile trip that typically takes about 21 minutes. This straightforward journey stays entirely within the Midwest, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day outing. You will primarily navigate via East Palatine Road, Dundee Road, and South Kennedy Drive to reach your destination. With fuel costs estimated at just $2, it is a highly economical route that requires no overnight stops. Expect a functional, local driving experience rather than a sprawling cross-country excursion.
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
6.4 miles from Palatine, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, so keep your hands on the wheel and your focus on navigating intersections. You will not encounter any interstate highway stretches, meaning the entire 12.9 miles is composed of local surface roads. Your longest uninterrupted segment is a 7-mile stretch along East Palatine Road, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Because the route lacks high-speed highway sections, you should prepare for a consistent, moderate pace throughout the drive. It is a practical, no-frills trek that demands steady attention to local traffic patterns.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 6 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Palatine Road is the longest continuous segment at about 7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Palatine Road.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 21m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Palatine Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (IL 62 / Algonquin Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles (IL 62; IL 68 / Dundee Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Palatine Road
Depart onto East Palatine Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
4
7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
IL 62 / Algonquin Road
Turn right onto IL 62 / Algonquin Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
4
7.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
IL 62; IL 68 / Dundee Road
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 62; IL 68 / Dundee Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
11.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
IL 25 / South Kennedy Drive
Turn right onto IL 25 / South Kennedy Drive
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Palatine Road | 7 mi | 12m |
| Dundee Road | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| South Kennedy Drive | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Algonquin Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Kennedy Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Palatine Road
— 7 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palatine, IL and Carpentersville, IL.
1
Start on East Palatine Road
7.0 mi
·
12 min
·
East Palatine Road
Use the none lane.
2
Turn right onto IL 62
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Algonquin Road
Use the none lane.
3
Continue on IL 62; IL 68
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Dundee Road
4
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 62; IL 68
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Dundee Road
5
Turn right onto IL 25
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Kennedy Drive
6
Arrive at destination
IL 25
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is only 21 minutes, you have maximum flexibility when choosing your departure time. You will not need to plan for any formal stops, as the distance is short enough to drive straight through without fatigue. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy local route, using a reliable GPS is recommended to navigate the transitions between Palatine Road, Dundee Road, and South Kennedy Drive efficiently. Budgeting roughly $2 for gas is more than sufficient for this trip, allowing you to focus on your destination rather than logistical planning. Take advantage of the short travel time to maximize your hours spent once you arrive in Carpentersville.
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 6.4 miles from Palatine, IL, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7 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 12.9 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.4 miles or 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carpentersville, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Palatine, 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 Palatine, IL
This is one driving day of about 12.9 miles and 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Palatine, 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 East Palatine Road for about 7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.4 mi from Palatine, IL · 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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 12.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.4 miles from Palatine, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carpentersville, IL
The final approach into Carpentersville, 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 Carpentersville, 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
$1.96 one way
$3.92 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.16 | $4.32 |
| premium | $4.80 | $2.44 | $4.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.87 | $5.73 |
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: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Carpentersville, IL
Evening in Carpentersville on Sunday
Local time
5:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°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
1 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
21m 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 Palatine, IL to Carpentersville, IL covers 12.9 miles and takes about 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Palatine Road, Dundee Road, South Kennedy Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.4 miles from Palatine, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.96 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 straightforward 21m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Palatine Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles (IL 62 / Algonquin Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles (IL 62; IL 68 / Dundee Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Palatine, IL to Carpentersville, 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 Carpentersville, IL
More trips to Carpentersville, IL
Explore more options from Palatine, IL or browse trips ending in Carpentersville, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Palatine, IL or Carpentersville, IL on MapSof.net.