Origin
Arlington Heights, IL
Late night in Arlington Heights on Tuesday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington Heights, IL to Bristol, 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
1h 12m
Distance
52.4 mi
84 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington Heights, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, IL
Boys in Bristol Photography
Trip Overview
Arlington Heights, IL to Bristol, IL is 52.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region and the state of Illinois, making it a straightforward local excursion. The drive primarily utilizes toll roads and interstate highways, offering a direct and efficient path. Given its short distance and duration, it's ideal for a quick trip or an add-on to another nearby destination. You can expect a generally smooth ride with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 18.8 mi | 22m |
| I 355 | 9.5 mi | 11m |
| IL 53 | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| IL 56 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| United States Route 30 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| East Euclid Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Galena Road | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| North Bridge Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 18.8 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington Heights, IL and Bristol, IL.
1
Start on East Euclid Avenue
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
East Euclid Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward IL 53 South
3
Merge onto IL 53
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 53
4
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
IL 53
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
I 355
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Use the slight left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 20-22
Toward IL 56, I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora, Butterfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 20
Toward I 88 East, I 88 West: Aurora, Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 88 West: Aurora
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto IL 56
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
IL 56
Exit 113
Toward IL 56 West: Sugar Grove
Use the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 30 East, IL 47: Sugar Grove, Elburn
Use the right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward IL 47 South, US 30 East: Sugar Grove
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto IL 47
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Illinois Route 47
15
Continue on US 30; IL 47
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
United States Route 30
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on North Bridge Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Bridge Street
17
Turn left onto Galena Road
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Galena Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Cannonball Trail
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Cannonball Trail
Use the right lane.
19
Arrive at destination
Cannonball Trail
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.2 miles from Arlington Heights, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 45.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
8
11 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 355
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
8
20.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward IL 56, I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora, Butterfield Road
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 20-22
Toward IL 56, I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora, Butte...
9
21.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 East, I 88 West: Aurora, Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20
Toward I 88 East, I 88 West: Aurora, Chicago
9
45.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 47 South, US 30 East: Sugar Grove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 47 South, US 30 East: Sugar Grove
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.19 one way
$16.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.99 | $17.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.08 | $20.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.57 | $23.14 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.13
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(18.8 mi)
$1.13
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.50 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.34 | $3.35 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Bristol, IL
Late night in Bristol on Tuesday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
1 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
1h 12m 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 route involves a significant amount of highway driving, with 48% of the trip on high-speed roads like the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and I-355. You'll experience a longest stretch of 18.8 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. After leaving the main highways, the profile shifts to mixed highway and surface roads, indicating a transition to more local traffic and potentially more frequent exits as you approach Bristol. Expect to merge with local traffic as you get closer to your destination.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.8 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in near IL 53.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.4 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Arlington Heights, IL and Bristol, IL, road signs point toward Aurora, Chicago and Elburn.
Aurora
20.5 mi in
|
~29m
Chicago
21.6 mi in
|
~31m
Elburn
45.5 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 52.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.13 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan Memorial 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.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Bristol, 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 4 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bristol, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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