How far is River Forest, IL from Palatine, IL?
The driving distance from River Forest, IL to Palatine, IL is about 21.6 miles (34.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 36m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 18.5 miles (29.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 36m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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 Cook County, Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between River Forest and Palatine.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between River Forest and Palatine.
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1
Start on Augusta Street
97 m · 13 sec · Augusta Street
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2
Turn right onto Lathrop Avenue
1.2 km · 2 min · Lathrop Avenue
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3
Turn left onto North Avenue
1.6 km · 2 min · North Avenue
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4
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
2872 ft · 1 min · North 1st Avenue
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5
Turn left onto Des Plaines River Road
4.3 mi · 9 min · Des Plaines River Road
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6
Continue on North River Road
1.2 mi · 3 min · North River Road
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7
Turn left onto West Higgins Road
1.3 km · 1 min · West Higgins Road
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8
Take the ramp right toward I 90 Toll West
1334 ft · 33 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
8.5 mi · 9 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward IL 53 North, IL 53 South, I 290 East: West Suburbs, Northwest Suburbs
812 ft · 20 sec
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11
Keep slight right to continue on IL 53 North: Northwest Suburbs, Rolling Meadows
2763 ft · 1 min
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12
Merge slight left
1.1 mi · 1 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward Kirchoff Road
1873 ft · 50 sec
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14
Turn left onto Kirchoff Road
853 ft · 25 sec · Kirchoff Road
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15
Turn right onto West Frontage Road
122 m · 9 sec · West Frontage Road
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16
Continue on Hicks Road
1.5 mi · 3 min · Hicks Road
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17
Turn left onto East Northwest Highway
1662 ft · 55 sec · East Northwest Highway
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18
Turn left onto East Palatine Road
22 m · 1 sec · East Palatine Road
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19
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Palatine Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between River Forest and Palatine.
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.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
8.46 mi · 00h 09m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Sunny leaving River Forest and Sunny near Palatine.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from River Forest to Palatine?
The road trip is about 21.6 miles (34.8 km) and usually takes 00h 36m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Elk Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.8 miles from River Forest and 10.8 miles from Palatine.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 18.5 miles (29.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.1 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:16 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.87 one way or $5.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around River Forest and Sunny near Palatine.
Stop Ideas Near Elk Grove
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Elk Grove.
Glenview station
La Grange Road
Summit
Chicago Union Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between River Forest and Palatine. Straight-line distance: 18.54 mi (29.83 km).
#1 River Forest
Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States
| Population | 10,694 |
| Coordinates | 41.8978100, -87.8139500 |
| Altitude | 192 |
| 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: 35 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 43m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 32m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 25m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 21m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 18m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $2.87 | $5.73 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $3.23 | $6.46 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $3.54 | $7.07 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $4.03 | $8.06 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.