How far is Alton, IL from Palatine, IL?
The driving distance from Alton, IL to Palatine, IL is about 290.3 miles (467.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 35m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 249.5 miles (401.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 05h 35m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Township in Henry County, Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Alton and Palatine.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alton and Palatine.
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1
Start on Alby Street
58 m · 10 sec · Alby Street
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2
Turn right onto East Broadway
649 ft · 22 sec · East Broadway
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3
Turn right onto Piasa Street
2192 ft · 37 sec · Piasa Street
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4
Continue on Martin Luther King Drive
1.5 km · 1 min · Martin Luther King Drive
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5
Turn right onto College Avenue
1274 ft · 26 sec · College Avenue
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6
Turn right
20 m · 1 sec
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7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward College Avenue
116 m · 10 sec · College Avenue
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8
Exit the roundabout onto College Avenue
3.6 mi · 6 min · College Avenue
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9
Continue on West Macarthur Drive
1.3 mi · 2 min · West Macarthur Drive
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10
Continue on West MacArthur Drive
1.4 mi · 3 min · West MacArthur Drive
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11
Continue on West Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi · 4 min · West Bethalto Drive
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12
Continue on State Route 140
9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140
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13
Continue on West State Street
1.3 km · 2 min · West State Street
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14
Continue on State Route 140
135 m · 14 sec · State Route 140
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15
Take the ramp left
1515 ft · 38 sec
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16
Merge slight left
96.7 mi · 1 hr 44 min
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17
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 North: Chicago
29.4 mi · 31 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
112.5 mi · 2 hr 3 min
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19
Take the exit slight right toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
2797 ft · 1 min
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20
Keep slight left to continue on I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
1.2 mi · 3 min
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21
Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway
19.2 mi · 24 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway
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22
Merge slight left
5.6 mi · 7 min
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23
Keep slight left
2.2 mi · 3 min
-
24
Take the exit slight right toward Kirchoff Road
1873 ft · 50 sec
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25
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
853 ft · 25 sec · Kirchoff Road
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26
Turn right onto West Frontage Road
122 m · 9 sec · West Frontage Road
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27
Continue on Hicks Road
1.5 mi · 3 min · Hicks Road
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28
Turn left onto East Northwest Highway
1662 ft · 55 sec · East Northwest Highway
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29
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
22 m · 1 sec · East Palatine Road
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Palatine Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Alton and Palatine.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 55 North
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
112 mi · 02h 03m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Alton and Mostly Sunny near Palatine.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Alton to Palatine?
The road trip is about 290.3 miles (467.2 km) and usually takes 05h 35m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Burns is a useful midpoint, sitting about 145.2 miles from Alton and 145.2 miles from Palatine.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 249.5 miles (401.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:50 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.62 one way or $77.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Alton and Mostly Sunny near Palatine.
Stop Ideas Near Burns
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington Finance Department
City Hall - Town of Normal
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Burns.
Uptown Station
Lincoln
Pontiac station
Peoria, Illinois
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Alton and Palatine. Straight-line distance: 249.47 mi (401.49 km).
#1 Alton
City in Madison County, Illinois, United States
| Population | 26,049 |
| Coordinates | 38.8906000, -90.1842800 |
| Altitude | 150 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Palatine
Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States
| Population | 66,830 |
| Coordinates | 42.1103000, -88.0342400 |
| Altitude | 226 |
| Country | United States |
End: Palatine (-88.03424, 42.1103)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 467 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 40m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 15m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 48m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 50m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 08m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 37m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $38.62 | $77.23 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $43.55 | $87.10 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $47.66 | $95.31 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $54.31 | $108.63 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Illinois · May 26, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.