Origin
Arlington Heights, IL
Afternoon in Arlington Heights on Sunday
Local time
3:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington Heights, IL to Carol Stream, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
21.9 mi
35 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington Heights, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Carol Stream, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward commute across the Midwest, this 21.9-mile trip from Arlington Heights to Carol Stream is a quick transit. You can expect to spend about 35 minutes on the road, making it an easy day trip that requires no overnight stay. The route utilizes a combination of IL 53, North Avenue, and I-355 to navigate between these Illinois communities. Budgeting around $3 for fuel should be sufficient for the journey. Because the distance is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 53 | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| North Avenue | 5.3 mi | 9m |
| I 355 | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| East Euclid Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Kuhn Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Thunderbird Trail | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Thunderbird Trail | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Aztec Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
IL 53
— 8.1 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington Heights, IL and Carol Stream, 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
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
I 355
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Use the slight left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 27
Toward IL 64: North Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto IL 64
5.3 mi
·
9 min
·
North Avenue
Use the left / uturn lanes.
8
Turn right onto Kuhn Road
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Kuhn Road
9
Turn right onto Thunderbird Trail
202 ft
·
10 sec
·
Thunderbird Trail
10
Turn right onto Aztec Drive
160 ft
·
8 sec
·
Aztec Drive
11
Turn left onto West Thunderbird Trail
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
West Thunderbird Trail
12
Arrive at destination
West Thunderbird Trail
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 15.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward IL 53 South
Navigation decision point
Toward IL 53 South
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
7
15.6 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward IL 64: North Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27
Toward IL 64: North Avenue
4
15.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
IL 64 / North Avenue
Turn right onto IL 64 / North Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / uturn lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.42 one way
$6.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.76 | $7.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.21 | $8.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.84 | $9.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Carol Stream, IL
Afternoon in Carol Stream on Sunday
Local time
3:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
35m 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 mixed-drive route balances local roads with a significant 58% highway share to keep your trip moving. You will encounter a variety of driving environments, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 8.1 miles on IL 53. Transitioning between these arteries requires you to stay alert as the road character shifts from regional highways to local corridors. While the drive is not overly long, the mix of interstate and surface streets ensures the experience feels dynamic rather than monotonous. Expect a functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over scenic detours.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.1 mi on IL 53.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 2.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 21.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 21.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). 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 8.1 miles on IL 53. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Carol Stream, 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 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; 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.
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 Carol Stream, 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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