Origin
Western Springs, IL
Late night in Western Springs on Tuesday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Western Springs, 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
37m
Distance
25 mi
40 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Western Springs, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Palatine, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Western Springs to Palatine is 25 miles and takes about 37 minutes via I 290 and Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Illinois, making it a convenient local hop. The route is mostly highway, offering a straightforward drive between these two suburban communities. It's a quick transit that doesn't require much planning, perfect for a day trip or a simple relocation.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 13.4 mi | 17m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 4 mi | 5m |
| IL 53 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Hicks Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Wolf Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Ogden Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Northwest Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kirchoff Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 13.4 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Western Springs, IL and Palatine, IL.
1
Start on Walnut Street
178 ft
·
10 sec
·
Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto Hillgrove Avenue
380 ft
·
16 sec
·
Hillgrove Avenue
3
Turn left onto Wolf Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Wolf Road
4
Turn left onto US 34
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Ogden Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
6
Merge onto I 294
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
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
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 290 West: Rockford
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Saint Charles Road West
12
Merge onto I 290
13 mi
·
17 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward Kirchoff Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Kirchoff Road
16
Turn right onto West Frontage Road
400 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Frontage Road
17
Continue on Hicks Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Hicks Road
18
Turn left onto US 14
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Northwest Highway
19
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Palatine Road
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
East Palatine Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 22.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.7 mi into trip
|
~6m 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
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m 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
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m 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...
6
20.3 mi into trip
|
~29m 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
22.5 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
$3.91 one way
$7.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.29 | $8.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.81 | $9.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.52 | $11.04 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Tri-state Tollway
(4 mi)
$0.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$0
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.19 | $1.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
5:23 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
16 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
37m 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 drive is mostly highway, with 63% of the route on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 290, which accounts for the longest stretch at 13.4 miles. Expect a more urban driving experience with frequent exits and merging traffic as you navigate the tollways and interstates. The highway portion will transition to surface roads as you approach your destination.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.4 mi on I 290.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 290 and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 16 decision points packed into just 25 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Western Springs, IL and Palatine, IL, road signs point toward Milwaukee, Chicago and Saint Charles Road West.
Milwaukee
4.9 mi in
|
~7m
|
via I 294
Chicago
4.9 mi in
|
~7m
|
via I 294
Saint Charles Road West
6.6 mi in
|
~11m
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 37m. Total distance: 25 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.4 miles on I 290. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.23 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: at 3.7 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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