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Trip from Palatine, IL to Round Lake Beach, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

36m

Distance

24.3 mi

39 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 33m ★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 38m
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.

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Palatine, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Round Lake Beach, IL, IL

Round Lake Beach, IL

Ryan Latimer

Trip Overview

The drive from Palatine, IL to Round Lake Beach, IL covers 24.3 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, North Hicks Road, North Rand Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.80 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

12.1 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 24.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 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 Round Lake Beach, 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 Round Lake Beach, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Northwest Highway
North Hicks Road
North Rand Road
West Belvidere Road
South Cedar Lake Road
North Cedar Lake Road
Nippersink Avenue

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 Round Lake Beach, IL.

1

Start on East Palatine Road

72 ft · 9 sec · East Palatine Road
2

Turn left onto East Northwest Highway

0.5 mi · 50 sec · East Northwest Highway
3

Turn straight

223 ft · 8 sec
4

Turn straight onto North Hicks Road

2.1 mi · 3 min · North Hicks Road
5

Turn left onto North Rand Road

15 mi · 19 min · North Rand Road
6

Continue straight

0.6 mi · 48 sec
7

Turn right onto West Belvidere Road

3.6 mi · 5 min · West Belvidere Road
8

Turn left onto South Cedar Lake Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Cedar Lake Road
9

Continue on North Cedar Lake Road

495 ft · 10 sec · North Cedar Lake Road
10

Turn slight right onto Nippersink Avenue

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Nippersink Avenue
11

Turn left onto North Cedar Lake Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Cedar Lake Road
12

Turn left

141 ft · 10 sec
13

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 12.1 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 24 miles or 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 12.1 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 Round Lake Beach, 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 24.3 miles and 36m.

At 24.3 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 12.1 mi from Palatine, IL · 18m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Round Lake, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gilmer, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 12.1 miles from Palatine, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Round Lake Beach, IL

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Round Lake Beach, 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

$3.80 one way

$7.60 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $4.17 $8.34
premium $4.89 $4.68 $9.35
diesel $5.61 $5.37 $10.73

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: 8.5 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 7.3 0 $2.55 $1.17
Efficient EV 6.1 0 $2.13 $0.97
EV Truck/SUV 9.7 0 $3.40 $1.56

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Palatine, IL

Night in Palatine on Wednesday

Local time

11:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Round Lake Beach, IL

Night in Round Lake Beach on Wednesday

Local time

11:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°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

2 degrees cooler 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 Round Lake Beach, IL covers 24.3 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, North Hicks Road, North Rand Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.1 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 $3.80 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 Round Lake Beach, 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 Round Lake Beach, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Palatine, IL to Round Lake Beach, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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