Origin
Dolton, IL
Late night in Dolton on Tuesday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dolton, IL to Palatine, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
48.2 mi
78 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dolton, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Palatine, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 48.2-mile drive from Dolton, IL to Palatine, IL is a straightforward trip within the Midwest region, easily manageable as a single-day excursion. Expect to spend around 1 hour and 9 minutes on the road, with a modest fuel cost of approximately $8. The journey utilizes a mix of major roadways, including the Tri-State Tollway and I-290, making it a practical choice for local travel. Given its relatively short distance and duration, this route offers flexibility for departure times and minimal need for overnight planning. It's a functional drive designed for efficient transit between two Illinois communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 22.9 mi | 28m |
| I 290 | 13.4 mi | 17m |
| East 147th Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| IL 53 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Hicks Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| South Indiana Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Sibley Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| East 142nd Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 22.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dolton, IL and Palatine, IL.
1
Start on Lincoln Avenue
63 ft
·
11 sec
·
Lincoln Avenue
2
Turn sharp left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
3
Turn right onto East 142nd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 142nd Street
4
Turn left onto South Indiana Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Indiana Avenue
5
Turn right onto IL 83
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Sibley Boulevard
6
Continue on IL 83
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
East 147th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 294
21 mi
·
25 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 294
321 ft
·
7 sec
·
Tri-State Tollway
Exit 31
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Exit 31
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North: Rockford, Milwaukee
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 290 West: Rockford
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Saint Charles Road West
14
Merge onto I 290
13 mi
·
17 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward Kirchoff Road
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Kirchoff Road
18
Turn right onto West Frontage Road
400 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Frontage Road
19
Continue on Hicks Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Hicks Road
20
Turn left onto US 14
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Northwest Highway
21
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Palatine Road
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
East Palatine Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Dolton, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 28.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Turn sharp left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
5.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the ramp toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
6
26.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
28.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Take the exit onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago
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 31
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Roc...
7
28.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 290 West, I 294 North: Rockford, Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 31
Toward I 290 West, I 294 North: Rockford, Milwa...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.54 one way
$15.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.27 | $16.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.28 | $18.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.64 | $21.28 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.37
Tri-state Tollway
(22.9 mi)
$1.37
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: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.06 | $2.31 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.22 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.75 | $3.08 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Late night in Palatine on Tuesday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph
38% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:30AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 11:30AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
7 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
1h 9m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this 48.2-mile drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 32% of the route comprising high-speed travel. You'll experience a mixed drive, transitioning between the efficiency of the Tri-State Tollway and other main roads like I-290 and East 147th Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 22.9 miles on the Tri-State Tollway, offering a period of consistent speed. As you progress, expect a blend of open highway conditions and more localized road segments, providing a varied but generally swift driving experience.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.9 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 early in the drive near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
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 48.2 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: near the start (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dolton, IL and Palatine, IL, road signs point toward Milwaukee, Chicago and Saint Charles Road West.
Milwaukee
28.1 mi in
|
~39m
|
via I 294
Chicago
28.1 mi in
|
~39m
|
via I 294
Saint Charles Road West
29.8 mi in
|
~42m
About the Cities
Starting in Dolton, IL
Full guide →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 9m. Total distance: 48.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.9 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.37 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state 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: near the start (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): 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 US Trip Planner 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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