Origin
Glen Ellyn, IL
Morning in Glen Ellyn on Tuesday
Local time
7:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glen Ellyn, 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
27m
Distance
17.8 mi
29 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glen Ellyn, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Palatine, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Glen Ellyn, IL to Palatine, IL is 17.8 miles and takes about 27 minutes via I 290 and IL 53, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward local commute or quick connection between suburbs. You'll primarily be on major roadways, so expect steady traffic flow typical of the area. It's a convenient option if you need to get from one point to another without a lengthy travel commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 4 mi | 4m |
| IL 53 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Hicks Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| North Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East Northwest Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kirchoff Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 5.6 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glen Ellyn, IL and Palatine, IL.
1
Start on Pennsylvania Avenue
73 ft
·
7 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn right onto IL 64
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 355
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
6
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward Kirchoff Road
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Kirchoff Road
10
Turn right onto West Frontage Road
400 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Frontage Road
11
Continue on Hicks Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Hicks Road
12
Turn left onto US 14
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Northwest Highway
13
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Palatine Road
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
East Palatine Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 17.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
IL 64 / North Avenue
Turn right onto IL 64 / North Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Turn left toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
6
13.1 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
15.4 mi into trip
|
~22m 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
17.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
East Palatine Road
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.78 one way
$5.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.06 | $6.11 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.43 | $6.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.93 | $7.86 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.28
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(4 mi)
$0.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.87 | $0.85 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.56 | $0.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Morning in Palatine on Tuesday
Local time
7:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
1 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
27m 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?
About 44% of this 17.8-mile drive is on highways like I 290. You'll encounter a 5.6-mile stretch on I 290, which is the longest continuous highway segment. After the highway portions, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect to navigate typical suburban traffic patterns and potentially dense exit sequences as you approach your destination.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.6 mi on I 290.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 around 1.8 miles in near IL 64 / North Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 17.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (IL 64 / North Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 13.1 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Glen Ellyn, IL
Full guide →Founded 1834
Glen Ellyn is a village in the Chicagoland area. This village has an interesting history filled with its ups and downs. However, today Glen Ellyn remains an affluent Chicago suburb with an abundance of historic sites and an exceptional dining scene.
Top landmarks
- • Glen Ellyn Downtown South Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
- • Lake Ellyn Park — park in Glen Ellyn, Illinois
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 27m. Total distance: 17.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). 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 5.6 miles on I 290. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.28 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 1.8 miles (IL 64 / North Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 13.1 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 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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