Origin
Yorkville, IL
Afternoon in Yorkville on Saturday
Local time
1:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Yorkville, IL to Palatine, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
52.7 mi
85 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yorkville, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Palatine, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Yorkville to Palatine is 52.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 11 minutes via IL 56 and Veterans Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, moving through the Midwest region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive that's perfect for a quick day trip. Given the short duration and modest fuel cost, you can easily make this drive on a whim or as part of a larger regional exploration. Plan for a convenient journey without extensive overnight stays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 56 | 22.1 mi | 27m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 10.6 mi | 13m |
| South Bridge Street | 5.7 mi | 9m |
| I 290 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| US 30 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| IL 53 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Hicks Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| East Northwest Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
IL 56
— 22.1 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yorkville, IL and Palatine, IL.
1
Start on South Bridge Street
5.7 mi
·
9 min
·
South Bridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
2
Continue on US 30; IL 47
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
US 30; IL 47
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward IL 56 East: Chicago
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto IL 56
22 mi
·
27 min
·
IL 56
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 132
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 355
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward Kirchoff Road
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Kirchoff Road
11
Turn right onto West Frontage Road
400 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Frontage Road
12
Continue on Hicks Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Hicks Road
13
Turn left onto US 14
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Northwest Highway
14
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Palatine Road
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
East Palatine Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.4 miles from Yorkville, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 8.6 and 52.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward IL 56 East: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward IL 56 East: Chicago
7
31.1 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 132
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
6
48 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward Kirchoff Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Kirchoff Road
6
52.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
East Palatine Road
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.24 one way
$16.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.05 | $18.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.14 | $20.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.64 | $23.27 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(10.6 mi)
$0.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.53 | $2.53 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Palatine, IL
Afternoon in Palatine on Saturday
Local time
1:54 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
18 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
1h 11m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 62% of the journey on faster roads. You'll experience stretches of highway driving, including a continuous 22.1-mile segment on IL 56. The Veterans Memorial Tollway also contributes to the highway feel, offering a more direct path. While the primary roads are highways, expect some transitions as you navigate the final approach into Palatine on South Bridge Street. This blend means you'll cover ground efficiently for most of the trip.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.1 mi on IL 56.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 56 and Veterans Memorial Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.7 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 8.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Palatine, IL
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 52.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.1 miles on IL 56. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.74 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Palatine, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Palatine, IL before heading back.
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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