Origin
Palatine, IL
Afternoon in Palatine on Friday
Local time
3:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palatine, IL to South Chicago, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
42.6 mi
69 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palatine, IL
Wikimedia Commons
South Chicago, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Palatine, IL to South Chicago, IL covers 42.6 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kennedy Expressway, Palatine Road, Chicago Skyway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.1 miles on Kennedy Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.66 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 42.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Palatine, IL to South Chicago, IL covers 42.6 miles and takes about 1h 5m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kennedy Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 8.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.6 miles you will encounter 17 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 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.4 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
6.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward US 45, IL 21: Milwaukee Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 45, IL 21: Milwaukee Avenue
6
31.4 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
7
35.2 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward I 90 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 59A
Toward I 90 East
8
36.1 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I 90 / Chicago Skyway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Chicago Skyway toward I 90 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 59A
Toward I 90 East
8
41.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward Anthony Avenue, 92nd Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 105
Toward Anthony Avenue, 92nd Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Expressway | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| Palatine Road | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Chicago Skyway | 5 mi | 7m |
| Milwaukee Avenue | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway (Express) | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| North Milwaukee Avenue | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Dan Ryan Expressway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| North Caldwell Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Kennedy Expressway
— 8.1 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palatine, IL and South Chicago, IL.
1
Start on East Palatine Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Palatine Road
2
Continue on Palatine Road
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Palatine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Take the exit
343 ft
·
9 sec
Toward US 45, IL 21: Milwaukee Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
4
Turn straight onto East Palatine Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Palatine Road
5
Turn right onto US 45; IL 21
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Milwaukee Avenue
6
Continue on IL 21
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
North Milwaukee Avenue
7
Turn left onto West Touhy Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Touhy Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto US 14
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Caldwell Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 94 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 94
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on I 90; I 94
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 59A
Toward I 90 East
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
Use the slight left lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Chicago Skyway
Exit 59A
Toward I 90 East
Use the slight left lane.
17
Turn straight onto I 90
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Chicago Skyway
18
Merge onto I 90
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Chicago Skyway
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 105
Toward Anthony Avenue, 92nd Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto South Anthony Avenue
361 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Anthony Avenue
21
Turn left onto East 92nd Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
East 92nd Street
22
Turn left onto South Commercial Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Commercial Avenue
23
Turn left onto East 86th Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
East 86th Street
24
Turn right
217 ft
·
15 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.3 mi from Palatine, IL · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.3 miles from Palatine, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in South Chicago, IL
The final approach into South Chicago, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.66 one way
$13.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.31 | $14.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.20 | $16.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.41 | $18.81 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.47
Chicago Skyway
$6.15
Chicago Skyway
(4.5 mi)
$0.32
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$6
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.47 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.73 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.96 | $2.73 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
South Chicago, IL
Afternoon in South Chicago on Friday
Local time
3:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 5m 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 South Chicago, IL covers 42.6 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kennedy Expressway, Palatine Road, Chicago Skyway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.3 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 $6.66 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.6 miles you will encounter 17 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 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.4 miles (I 90; I 94 / Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Palatine, IL to South Chicago, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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