Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 6m
Distance
164.8 mi
265 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palatine, IL
Wikimedia Commons
East Moline, IL
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Palatine, IL to East Moline, IL covers 164.8 miles and takes about 3h 6m 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 $25.76 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
82.4 miles from Palatine, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 164.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (21%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 3h 6m drive with frequent turns across 164.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 164.8 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; US 51
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Palatine, IL to East Moline, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Island along the way.
Rock Island
| 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 |
| Chicago-Kansas City Expressway | 5.4 mi | 5m |
| IL 5 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| South Plum Grove Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| South Meacham Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Palatine, IL and East Moline, IL.
Start on East Palatine Road
Turn left onto South Plum Grove Road
Continue on South Meacham Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Merge onto I 39; US 51
Continue on I 39; US 20; US 51
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; US 51
Take the exit
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
Continue on I 88; IL 110
Continue on I 88; IL 110
Continue on I 88; IL 92; IL 110
Continue on IL 5; IL 92
Turn right onto Crosstown Avenue
Continue on 30th Avenue
Turn right onto 7th Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 36 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.4 miles or 1h 33m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Moline, IL than in the middle of the route.
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 164.8 miles and 3h 6m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.4 mi from Palatine, IL · 1h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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.
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 82.4 miles from Palatine, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into East Moline, 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 East Moline, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$25.76 one way
$51.53 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.29 | $56.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $31.71 | $63.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.39 | $72.77 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.47
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
$26
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.30 | $7.91 |
| Efficient EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.42 | $6.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.9 | 0 | $23.07 | $10.55 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Palatine on Saturday
Local time
3:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in East Moline on Saturday
Local time
3:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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