How far is Oak Forest, IL from Palatine, IL?

The driving distance from Oak Forest, IL to Palatine, IL is about 43.7 miles (70.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 38.1 miles (61.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 02m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
43.71 mi
01h 01m
Flight
38.11 mi
61.34 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Oak Forest.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
38.11 mi
Kilometers
61.34 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
43.71 mi
Kilometers
70.34 km
Drive Time
01h 01m

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 01h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Palatine
Sat, Apr 11, 4:25 AM CDT
Return by in Oak Forest
Sat, Apr 11, 5:27 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Oak Forest
2026-04-11T03:24
Arrive Palatine
Sat, Apr 11, 4:25 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:01 AM to 11:01 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Oak Forest
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Oak Brook
IL

Village in DuPage County in Illinois

From Oak Forest
21.9 mi
00h 30m
To Palatine
21.9 mi
00h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph ESE
Destination
58°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Oak Forest and Palatine.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oak Forest and Palatine.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    36 m · 11 sec

  2. 2

    Turn uturn onto West 159th Street

    2203 ft · 50 sec · West 159th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Cicero Avenue

    4.1 mi · 7 min · Cicero Avenue

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 294 North: Wisconsin

    2787 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    17.3 mi · 21 min · Tri-State Tollway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway

  7. 7

    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

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1.3 km · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 290 West: Rockford

    1.4 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Saint Charles Road West

    1751 ft · 43 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    13.4 mi · 17 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Kirchoff Road

    1873 ft · 50 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Kirchoff Road

    853 ft · 25 sec · Kirchoff Road

  15. 15

    Turn right onto West Frontage Road

    122 m · 9 sec · West Frontage Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Hicks Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Hicks Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto East Northwest Highway

    1662 ft · 55 sec · East Northwest Highway

  18. 18

    Turn left onto East Palatine Road

    22 m · 1 sec · East Palatine Road

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Palatine Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Oak Forest and Palatine.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
43.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Tri-State Tollway
19.4 mi · 44%
Saint Charles Road West
16 mi · 36%
Cicero Avenue
4.08 mi · 9%
Hicks Road
1.53 mi · 4%
I 290 West
0.88 mi · 2%
I 294 North
0.53 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Tri-State Tollway

Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

17.3 mi · 00h 21m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 01m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.6 mi
38.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Oak Brook
00h 30m from Oak Forest
Leave By
4:28 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Oak Forest 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 Oak Forest to Palatine?

The road trip is about 43.7 miles (70.3 km) and usually takes 01h 01m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Oak Brook is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.9 miles from Oak Forest and 21.9 miles from Palatine.

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

The direct path is about 38.1 miles (61.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:28 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.81 one way or $11.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Oak Forest and Mostly Sunny near Palatine.

Stop Ideas Near Oak Brook

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Oak Brook, 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 Oak Brook.

RAIL

La Grange Road

5 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

11 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.
RAIL

Naperville

19 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Chicago Union Station

25 mi away
225 South Canal Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Oak Forest and Palatine. Straight-line distance: 38.11 mi (61.34 km).

Oak Forest

#1 Oak Forest

City in Cook County, Illinois

Population26,884
Coordinates41.6028100, -87.7439400
Altitude205
CountryUnited States
Palatine

#2 Palatine

Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Population66,830
Coordinates42.1103000, -88.0342400
Altitude226
CountryUnited States
Start: Oak Forest (-87.74394, 41.60281)
End: Palatine (-88.03424, 42.1103)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 70 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.54 gal
5.84 L · about $5.81
Round trip
$11.61
3.08 gal · 11.68 L
Estimated CO2
13.7 kg one way
Round trip: 27.4 kg / 60 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.81 $11.61
Mid-grade $4.25 $6.55 $13.10
Premium $4.65 $7.17 $14.33
Diesel $5.30 $8.17 $16.34

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Oak Forest and Palatine. The current time is 03:24:20.

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.