Origin
North Aurora, IL
Late night in North Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Aurora, 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
51m
Distance
38.1 mi
61 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Palatine, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 38.1 miles through the Illinois Midwest, this trip connects North Aurora to Palatine in approximately 51 minutes. It is perfectly suited as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays given its short duration. With a modest fuel budget of $6, the trip is highly economical for travelers looking to navigate between these two suburbs. You will primarily utilize the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, the Veterans Memorial Tollway, and I-290 to complete the journey. Because the entire route remains within the state of Illinois, you can expect a familiar, consistent regional feel throughout the drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 15.2 mi | 19m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 10.6 mi | 13m |
| I 290 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| IL 53 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Hicks Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| South Lincolnway Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Northwest Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kirchoff Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 15.2 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Aurora, IL and Palatine, IL.
1
Start on West State Street
68 ft
·
7 sec
·
West State Street
2
Turn right onto IL 31; IL 56
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Lincolnway Street
3
Take the ramp onto IL 56
416 ft
·
10 sec
·
IL 56
Toward I 88 Toll, IL 56 Toll West: Chicago, DeKalb-Iowa
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
5
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
this road
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
6
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 132
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 355
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward Kirchoff Road
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Kirchoff Road
13
Turn right onto West Frontage Road
400 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Frontage Road
14
Continue on Hicks Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Hicks Road
15
Turn left onto US 14
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Northwest Highway
16
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Palatine Road
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
East Palatine Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 miles from North Aurora, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 35.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
IL 56
Take the ramp onto IL 56 toward I 88 Toll, IL 56 Toll West: Chicago, DeKalb-Iowa
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 88 Toll, IL 56 Toll West: Chicago, DeK...
8
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
7
16.5 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
33.4 mi into trip
|
~43m 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
35.6 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.96 one way
$11.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.54 | $13.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.33 | $14.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.41 | $16.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.65
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(15.2 mi)
$0.91
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
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.33 | $2.44 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
4:25 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
2 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
51m 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 trip functions as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate haul. While you will spend 21% of your time on highways, the route requires frequent adjustments and navigation through various interchanges. You will experience your longest uninterrupted stretch while covering 15.2 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. Transitioning between these major tollways means the road’s personality shifts from high-speed corridors to more technical local road segments. Be prepared for a dynamic experience behind the wheel that demands your attention as you transition between these distinct roadway systems.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.2 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near IL 56.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 38.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (IL 56): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
760 ft
681 ft
Total Climb
251 ft
Total Descent
192 ft
Highest Point
760 ft
~24.5 mi in
Elevation Range
78 ft
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 51m. Total distance: 38.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.2 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.65 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan 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 0.9 miles (IL 56): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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