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Trip from Hickory Point, IL to Palatine, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 16m

Distance

157.2 mi

253 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
3h 5m ★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 25m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 26m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Hickory Point, IL, IL

Hickory Point, IL

Pho Tomass

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Palatine, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 157.2-mile drive from Hickory Point to Palatine, Illinois, is easily manageable as a one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 16 minutes. You'll be primarily on major highways, including I-80, I-39, and the Veterans Memorial Tollway, with 73% of the route being highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $25, making it an affordable option for a quick getaway or a move. Given the relatively short duration and highway focus, it’s a straightforward trip through the Midwest region of Illinois without needing an overnight stay.

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

78.6 miles from Hickory Point, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 47.3 mi 50m
I 39 35.9 mi 38m
Veterans Memorial Tollway 19.2 mi 24m
I 55 18.2 mi 21m
County Road 1400 North 6.1 mi 10m
State Route 116 6.1 mi 9m
County Road 1800 North 5.6 mi 9m
I 290 5.6 mi 6m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 47.3 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hickory Point, IL and Palatine, IL.

1

Start on IL 116

0.3 mi · 32 sec · State Route 116
2

Continue on IL 116

1.9 mi · 3 min · State Route 116
3

Continue on IL 116

2.2 mi · 4 min · West Mount Vernon Street
4

Continue on IL 116

3.9 mi · 5 min · State Route 116
5

Continue on IL 116; IL 117

2.8 mi · 4 min · County Road 1400 North
6

Continue on IL 116; IL 117

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Front Street
7

Continue on IL 116; IL 117

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Husseman Street
8

Continue on IL 116; IL 117

3.3 mi · 5 min · County Road 1400 North
9

Continue on IL 116; IL 117

1.3 mi · 2 min · County Road 2100 E
10

Turn right onto IL 116

5.6 mi · 9 min · County Road 1800 North
11

Turn left

0.2 mi · 28 sec
12

Merge onto I 39; US 51

36 mi · 38 min · I 39; US 51
13

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 57 sec
Exit 59A Toward I 80 East: Chicago
14

Merge onto I 80

47 mi · 50 min · I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Exit 126B Toward I 55 North: Chicago Use the right lane.
16

Merge onto I 55

18 mi · 21 min · I 55
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 269 Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork

1.2 mi · 2 min
Toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
19

Merge onto I 355

19 mi · 24 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Merge onto I 290

5.6 mi · 6 min · I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53

2.2 mi · 2 min · IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward Kirchoff Road Use the right lane.
23

Turn left onto Kirchoff Road

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Kirchoff Road
24

Turn right onto West Frontage Road

400 ft · 8 sec · West Frontage Road
25

Continue on Hicks Road

1.5 mi · 3 min · Hicks Road
26

Turn left onto US 14

0.3 mi · 54 sec · East Northwest Highway
27

Turn left onto East Palatine Road

73 ft · 1 sec · East Palatine Road
Use the left lane.
28

Arrive at destination

East Palatine Road

Trip Plan

For this 157.2-mile drive, starting early in the morning is a smart move to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the Chicago metropolitan area. With a duration of just over 3 hours, you likely won't need more than one planned stop for fuel or a break. The longest stretch without a major exit is 47.3 miles on I-80, so plan your break before or after that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $25, and topping up before leaving Hickory Point will ensure a smooth journey to Palatine.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.6 miles from Hickory Point, IL, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.3 miles.

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 35 miles or 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 78.6 miles or 1h 40m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palatine, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Hickory Point, 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 Hickory Point, IL

This is one driving day of about 157.2 miles and 3h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Hickory Point, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 47.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

village in Kendall County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oswego, IL

79 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

El Paso, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marseilles, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 78.6 miles from Hickory Point, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Tacochela Mexican Restaurant and Catering

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Downers Grove, Illinois

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 28min to go 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+16304478226

Visit website

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Downers Grove, Illinois

1.8 mi

Subway

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Romeoville, Illinois

1.7 mi

Tacochela Mexican Restaurant and Catering

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Downers Grove, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+16304478226

Visit website

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Downers Grove, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13312159463

Visit website

Subway

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Romeoville, Illinois

Hours: 7:30 am–9 pm

+18155243248

Visit website

Sushi Ya

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Joliet, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+18157303838

Visit website

Steven's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Woodridge, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+16308109812

Visit website

El Barrio Mexican Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Romeoville, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+18153721100

Visit website

Gio's Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Romeoville, Illinois

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+18159053987

Visit website

Silver Spoon

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Joliet, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+18157256202

Visit website

Shibam Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Glendale Heights, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+12244487577

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 107.3 and 157.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
107.3 mi into trip | ~2h 10m in

Take the exit toward I 55 North: Chicago

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 126B Toward I 55 North: Chicago
8
125.9 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in

Take the exit toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs

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 269 Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest...
6
152.5 mi into trip | ~3h 8m 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
154.7 mi into trip | ~3h 11m 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
157.1 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in | East Palatine Road

Turn left onto East Palatine Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.58 one way

$49.15 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 55 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $26.98 $53.97
premium $4.89 $30.25 $60.50
diesel $5.61 $34.71 $69.42

Estimated Tolls: $1.35

Veterans Memorial Tollway (19.2 mi) $1.35

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

$25

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 55 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 47.2 0 $16.51 $7.55
Efficient EV 39.3 0 $13.75 $6.29
EV Truck/SUV 62.9 0 $22.01 $10.06

Gas CO2

55 kg

EV CO2

18 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 20, 2026

Origin

Hickory Point, IL

Afternoon in Hickory Point on Tuesday

Local time

12:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Palatine, IL

Afternoon in Palatine on Tuesday

Local time

12:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

13 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

3h 16m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

Pullman National Historical Park

National Historical Park

In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...

22 mi from route ~56 min detour Free near mile 130.1
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 157.2-mile journey. With 73% of the route on interstates and tollways, you'll experience efficient travel for the majority of the 3-hour-plus trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 47.3 miles on I-80, offering a good opportunity to make steady progress. While primarily interstate, the transition between I-80, I-39, and the Veterans Memorial Tollway will keep the route dynamic enough to prevent monotony. This is a route built for covering ground.

73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.3 mi on I 80.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 39. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 107.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 157.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 107.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.5 miles (IL 53): 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.

On the drive from Hickory Point, IL to Palatine, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs along the way.

Southwest Suburbs

125.9 mi in | ~2h 33m

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 3h 16m. Total distance: 157.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 47.3 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.35 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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 107.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.5 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.

Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Palatine, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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