Origin
Lombard, IL
Late night in Lombard on Tuesday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lombard, 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
28m
Distance
17.9 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 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lombard, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Palatine, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Lombard and Palatine is a straightforward 17.9-mile journey that typically takes about 28 minutes. This Midwest transit is perfectly suited for a quick day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via I-290, the Veterans Memorial Tollway, and IL-53 to reach your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of just $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly commute. Since both towns are located in Illinois, you will remain within the same region for the duration of the trip, making this a simple and predictable drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 4 mi | 4m |
| IL 53 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| South Grace Street | 1.7 mi | 5m |
| Hicks Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| North Avenue | 1.4 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 Lombard, IL and Palatine, IL.
1
Start on South Grace Street
1.7 mi
·
5 min
·
South Grace Street
2
Turn left onto IL 64
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 355
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
5
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward Kirchoff Road
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Kirchoff Road
9
Turn right onto West Frontage Road
400 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Frontage Road
10
Continue on Hicks Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Hicks Road
11
Turn left onto US 14
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Northwest Highway
12
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Palatine Road
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
East Palatine Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 17.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
5
7.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 290
Merge onto I 290
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
13.2 mi into trip
|
~20m 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
|
~23m 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
|
~28m in
|
East Palatine Road
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.80 one way
$5.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.07 | $6.15 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.44 | $6.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.95 | $7.90 |
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: 6.3 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 | 5.4 | 0 | $1.88 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.57 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
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
Late night in Palatine on Tuesday
Local time
4:02 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
5 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
28m 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?
Expect a mixed-drive experience that balances highway speed with local connectivity. Roughly 44% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on highways, providing a steady pace for a large portion of the 28-minute duration. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted segment while cruising for 5.6 miles on I-290. As you transition between these major arteries, the road’s personality shifts from high-speed corridors to the more standard suburban infrastructure found throughout this part of the state.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 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?
7/10
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 3.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 17.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (I 290): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.2 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
752 ft
719 ft
Total Climb
33 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
752 ft
~5.1 mi in
Elevation Range
33 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Lombard, IL
Full guide →Founded 1869
Lombard is a suburb of Chicago in Illinois and is considered part of Chicagoland. Lombard is a small town with a tight-knit community built around its high schools and the downtown Lombard culture. Residents of Lombard are very friendly and familial and willing to guide tourists to various locations in Chicago and Chicagoland.
Top landmarks
- • First Church of Lombard — historic building in Lombard, IL, USA
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 28m. Total distance: 17.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m 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 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (I 290): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.2 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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