Trip from Palatine, IL to Lombard, IL

Drive Time

28m

Distance

18 mi

29 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 26m ★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 27m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Palatine, IL, IL

Palatine, IL

Claudia Solano

Downtown Lombard, IL, IL

Lombard, IL

Rino Adamo

Trip Overview

The drive from Palatine, IL to Lombard, IL covers 18 miles and takes about 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on IL 53, I 355, North Grace Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.9 miles on IL 53. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.73 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

9 miles from Palatine, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 28m highway drive covering 18 miles, with most of the trip on IL 53 and I 355. The longest continuous stretch is about 7.9 miles on IL 53.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IL 53 is the longest continuous segment at about 7.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 53 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 US 14 / East Northwest Highway.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 18 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 (US 14 / East Northwest Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 14 / East Northwest Highway

Turn right onto US 14 / East Northwest Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
8
2.7 mi into trip | ~5m in | IL 53

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
8
9.7 mi into trip | ~14m in | I 355

Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 7 Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
7
14.3 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward IL 64: North Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 27 Toward IL 64: North Avenue
6
16.3 mi into trip | ~23m in | North Grace Street

Turn right onto North Grace Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
IL 53 7.9 mi 10m
I 355 4.6 mi 5m
North Grace Street 1.7 mi 5m
North Avenue 1.6 mi 3m
Hicks Road 1.2 mi 2m
East Northwest Highway 0.3 mi <1m
East Palatine Road <0.1 mi <1m
Euclid Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: IL 53 — 7.9 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Palatine, IL and Lombard, IL.

1

Start on East Palatine Road

73 ft · 5 sec · East Palatine Road
2

Turn right onto US 14

0.3 mi · 51 sec · East Northwest Highway
Use the none lane.
3

Turn right onto Hicks Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Hicks Road
Use the right lane.
4

Turn left onto Euclid Avenue

66 ft · 1 sec · Euclid Avenue
Use the left lane.
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward IL 53 South
6

Merge onto IL 53

0.9 mi · 1 min · IL 53
7

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53

7.0 mi · 9 min · IL 53
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 355

4.6 mi · 5 min · I 355
Exit 7 Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet Use the slight left lane.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Exit 27 Toward IL 64: North Avenue Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn left onto IL 64

1.6 mi · 3 min · North Avenue
Use the none lane.
11

Turn right onto North Grace Street

1.7 mi · 5 min · North Grace Street
Use the right lane.
12

Arrive at destination

South Grace Street

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 9 miles from Palatine, IL, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.9 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 18 miles or 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 9 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lombard, 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 18 miles and 28m.

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 IL 53 for about 7.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 9 mi from Palatine, IL · 13m into the drive

Downtown Schaumburg, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Schaumburg, IL

9 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.

Popular next leg

Schaumburg, IL to Lombard, IL

15.1 mi · 26m

Pacing Suggestions

Wheaton, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Schaumburg, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 9 miles from Palatine, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lombard, IL

The final approach into Lombard, 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 Lombard, 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

$2.73 one way

$5.47 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $3.01 $6.03
premium $4.80 $3.40 $6.80
diesel $5.64 $4.00 $8.00

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 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 5.4 0 $1.89 $0.86
Efficient EV 4.5 0 $1.58 $0.72
EV Truck/SUV 7.2 0 $2.52 $1.15

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Palatine, IL

Evening in Palatine on Sunday

Local time

6:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lombard, IL

Evening in Lombard on Sunday

Local time

6:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°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

2 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

28m 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 Lombard, IL covers 18 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IL 53, I 355, North Grace Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9 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 $2.73 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 10 significant decision points across 18 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 (US 14 / East Northwest Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Palatine, IL to Lombard, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Lombard, IL to Palatine, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

17.9 mi 28m

Explore more options from Palatine, IL or browse trips ending in Lombard, IL.

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