Origin
Palatine, IL
Night in Palatine on Wednesday
Local time
9:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palatine, IL to Forest Park, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
36m
Distance
25.3 mi
41 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palatine, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Forest Park, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Palatine, IL to Forest Park, IL covers 25.3 miles and takes about 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Northwest Highway, Hicks Road, Euclid Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.96 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
12.7 miles from Palatine, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 36m drive with frequent turns across 25.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Northwest Highway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Palatine, IL to Forest Park, IL is easy. At 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Palatine, IL to Forest Park, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Northwest Highway | — | — |
| Hicks Road | — | — |
| Euclid Avenue | — | — |
| IL 53 South | — | — |
| I 290 East | — | — |
| Des Plaines Avenue | — | — |
| Madison Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Northwest Highway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palatine, IL and Forest Park, IL.
1
Start on East Palatine Road
72 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Palatine Road
2
Turn right onto East Northwest Highway
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
East Northwest Highway
3
Turn right onto Hicks Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Hicks Road
4
Turn left onto Euclid Avenue
66 ft
·
1 sec
·
Euclid Avenue
5
Take the ramp slight right toward IL 53 South
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
IL 53 South
6
Merge slight left
0.9 mi
·
1 min
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 290 East: Chicago
15 mi
·
19 min
·
I 290 East: Chicago
9
Take the exit slight right toward Des Plaines Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Des Plaines Avenue
10
Turn left onto Des Plaines Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Des Plaines Avenue
11
Turn right onto Madison Street
43 ft
·
1 sec
·
Madison Street
12
Arrive at your destination
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 12.7 miles from Palatine, IL, or about 18m into the drive.
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 25 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.7 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forest Park, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Palatine, IL.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Palatine, IL
This is one driving day of about 25.3 miles and 36m.
At 25.3 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.7 mi from Palatine, IL · 18m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.7 miles from Palatine, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Forest Park, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Forest Park, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.96 one way
$7.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.34 | $8.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.87 | $9.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.59 | $11.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.21 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.21 | $1.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Forest Park, IL
Night in Forest Park on Wednesday
Local time
9:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
36m 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 Forest Park, IL covers 25.3 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Northwest Highway, Hicks Road, Euclid Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.7 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 $3.96 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.
The drive from Palatine, IL to Forest Park, IL is easy. At 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Palatine, IL to Forest Park, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Palatine, IL to Forest Park, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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