How far is Mount Vernon, IL from Palatine, IL?

The driving distance from Mount Vernon, IL to Palatine, IL is about 301.1 miles (484.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 266.1 miles (428.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
301.14 mi
05h 41m
Flight
266.05 mi
428.16 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Mount Vernon.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
266.05 mi
Kilometers
428.16 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
301.14 mi
Kilometers
484.63 km
Drive Time
05h 41m

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 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Palatine
Sat, Apr 18, 3:44 AM CDT
Return by in Mount Vernon
Sat, Apr 18, 9:26 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mount Vernon
2026-04-17T22:02
Arrive Palatine
Sat, Apr 18, 3:44 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:42 AM to 1:42 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:36 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Mount Vernon
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Thomasboro
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Mount Vernon
150.7 mi
02h 50m
To Palatine
150.5 mi
02h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 13 mph S
Destination
77°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Mount Vernon and Palatine.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mount Vernon and Palatine.

  1. 1

    Start on Broadway Street

    44 m · 10 sec · Broadway Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South 9th Street

    87 m · 20 sec · South 9th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Main Street

    2130 ft · 40 sec · Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto Broadway Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Broadway Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right

    1350 ft · 22 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway

    67.5 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Ken Gray Expressway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    185.5 mi · 3 hr 21 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin

    1718 ft · 33 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    20.8 mi · 26 min · Tri-State Tollway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 290 West, I 294 North, I 290 East: Rockford, Milwaukee, Chicago

    98 m · 8 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.3 km · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 290 West: Rockford

    1.4 km · 2 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Saint Charles Road West

    1751 ft · 43 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    13.4 mi · 17 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Kirchoff Road

    1873 ft · 50 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Kirchoff Road

    853 ft · 25 sec · Kirchoff Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto West Frontage Road

    122 m · 9 sec · West Frontage Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Hicks Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Hicks Road

  23. 23

    Turn left onto East Northwest Highway

    1662 ft · 55 sec · East Northwest Highway

  24. 24

    Turn left onto East Palatine Road

    22 m · 1 sec · East Palatine Road

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Palatine Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Mount Vernon and Palatine.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
25 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
185 mi · 62%
Ken Gray Expressway
68.5 mi · 23%
Tri-State Tollway
22.8 mi · 8%
Saint Charles Road West
16 mi · 5%
Broadway Street
2.46 mi · 1%
I 294 Toll North
1.78 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

185 mi · 03h 21m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
05h 41m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35 mi
266.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasboro
02h 50m from Mount Vernon
Leave By
5:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Mount Vernon and Partly Sunny near Palatine.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Mount Vernon to Palatine?

The road trip is about 301.1 miles (484.6 km) and usually takes 05h 41m 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?

Thomasboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 150.7 miles from Mount Vernon and 150.5 miles from Palatine.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 266.1 miles (428.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 35 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 5:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.09 one way or $80.17 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Mount Vernon and Partly Sunny near Palatine.

Stop Ideas Near Thomasboro

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Thomasboro, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Thomasboro.

RAIL

Rantoul

8 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

15 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

49 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Gilman

60 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Mount Vernon and Palatine. Straight-line distance: 266.05 mi (428.16 km).

Mount Vernon

#1 Mount Vernon

City located near the center of Jefferson County, Illinois, United States

Population14,511
Coordinates38.3172700, -88.9031200
Altitude156
CountryUnited States
Palatine

#2 Palatine

Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Population66,830
Coordinates42.1103000, -88.0342400
Altitude226
CountryUnited States
Start: Mount Vernon (-88.90312, 38.31727)
End: Palatine (-88.03424, 42.1103)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 485 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.63 gal
40.22 L · about $40.09
Round trip
$80.17
21.26 gal · 80.44 L
Estimated CO2
94.5 kg one way
Round trip: 188.9 kg / 416 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.09 $80.17
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.21 $90.42
Premium $4.65 $49.47 $98.94
Diesel $5.30 $56.38 $112.76

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 · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Mount Vernon and Palatine. The current time is 22:02:59.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.