Origin
Palatine, IL
Afternoon in Palatine on Tuesday
Local time
2:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palatine, IL to Rock Island, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 23m
Distance
171.3 mi
276 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 11m
★
6 AM
3h 23m
8 AM
3h 47m
10 AM
3h 32m
12 PM
3h 29m
3 PM
3h 33m
5 PM
3h 46m
8 PM
3h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palatine, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Rock Island, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Palatine, IL to Rock Island, IL covers 171.3 miles and takes about 3h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.1 miles on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.78 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.7 miles from Palatine, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 23m drive with frequent turns across 171.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 49.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 171.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
53.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
6
79.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 88 West Toll: Moline, Rock Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 97B
Toward I 88 West Toll: Moline, Rock Island
5
161.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 59m in
|
IL 92
Take the exit onto IL 92 toward IL 84 North, IL 92 West: Silvis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 84 North, IL 92 West: Silvis
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 49.1 mi | 52m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 38.9 mi | 41m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 33.8 mi | 36m |
| I 39 | 24.9 mi | 27m |
| IL 92 | 7.9 mi | 19m |
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | 5.4 mi | 5m |
| IL 5 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| South Plum Grove Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
— 49.1 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palatine, IL and Rock Island, IL.
1
Start on East Palatine Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Palatine Road
2
Turn left onto South Plum Grove Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Plum Grove Road
3
Continue on South Meacham Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Meacham Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 90
49 mi
·
52 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington
7
Merge onto I 39; US 51
0.5 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 39; US 51
8
Continue on I 39; US 20; US 51
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 39; US 20; US 51
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; US 51
22 mi
·
24 min
·
I 39; US 51
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 97B
Toward I 88 West Toll: Moline, Rock Island
11
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
34 mi
·
36 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
12
Continue on I 88; IL 110
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
13
Continue on I 88; IL 110
38 mi
·
40 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Exit 41
14
Continue on I 88; IL 92; IL 110
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
15
Continue on IL 5; IL 92
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
IL 5; IL 92
16
Take the exit onto IL 92
7.9 mi
·
19 min
·
IL 92
Toward IL 84 North, IL 92 West: Silvis
17
Continue on IL 92
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
6th Avenue
18
Continue on IL 92
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Avenue
19
Continue on IL 92
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Avenue
20
Turn right onto US 67
464 ft
·
15 sec
·
15th Street
21
Arrive at destination
US 67
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 85.7 miles from Palatine, IL, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.1 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.7 miles or 1h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rock Island, 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 171.3 miles and 3h 23m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway for about 49.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.7 mi from Palatine, IL · 1h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.7 miles from Palatine, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rock Island, IL
The final approach into Rock Island, 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 Rock Island, 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
$26.78 one way
$53.56 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.40 | $58.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.97 | $65.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.82 | $75.64 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.47
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(49.1 mi)
$3.44
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(33.8 mi)
$2.03
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.4 | 0 | $17.99 | $8.22 |
| Efficient EV | 42.8 | 0 | $14.99 | $6.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.5 | 0 | $23.98 | $10.96 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Rock Island, IL
Afternoon in Rock Island on Tuesday
Local time
2:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
6 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
3h 23m 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 Rock Island, IL covers 171.3 miles and takes about 3h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.7 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 $26.78 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 171.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Palatine, IL to Rock Island, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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