Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
29.9 mi
48 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington Heights, IL
Wikimedia Commons
St. Charles, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington Heights, IL to St. Charles, IL is 29.9 miles and takes about 45m via Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically Illinois, making it a convenient local trip. Expect a route that involves frequent turns, typical of navigating through suburban and local roads. Given its short distance and duration, it's well-suited for a same-day excursion, allowing plenty of time for activities at your destination.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Memorial Tollway | 13.7 mi | 14m |
| Stearns Road | 5.5 mi | 9m |
| North Arlington Heights Road | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| Saint Charles Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| North Liberty Street | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Dundee Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Page Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Bluff City Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington Heights, IL and St. Charles, IL.
Start on East Euclid Avenue
Turn right onto North Arlington Heights Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Continue on this road
Turn left onto IL 25
At end of road, turn left onto IL 25
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto IL 25
Turn right onto IL 25
Turn left onto IL 25
Turn right onto IL 25; CR 37
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 24.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto North Arlington Heights Road
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward IL 25
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn left onto IL 25 / Page Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto IL 25; CR 37 / Stearns Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$4.67 one way
$9.35 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.13 | $10.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.75 | $11.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.60 | $13.20 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.96
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.62 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.19 | $1.91 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Arlington Heights on Sunday
Local time
4:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in St. Charles on Sunday
Local time
4:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter numerous intersections and changes in direction rather than a continuous highway experience. With a 0% highway share, you won't be on major interstates for extended periods. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 13.7 miles on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before transitioning back to local roads. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with frequent adjustments.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Arlington Heights Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 29.9 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (North Arlington Heights Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (I 90 / Jane Addams Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Founded 1834
St. Charles is a city in the Fox River Valley.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 29.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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