Arlington Heights, IL to Truro, IL is 178.6 miles and takes about 3h 52m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This all-Midwest trip stays within Illinois, primarily using interstate highways for a straightforward drive. With a high percentage of highway cruising, it's a practical option if you need to cover ground efficiently between these two points. The estimated fuel cost is quite low, making it an economical choice for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
89.3 miles from Arlington Heights, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
80.8 mi
1h 26m
I 355
20.1 mi
25m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
18.1 mi
21m
Tenney Street
10.6 mi
16m
IL 53
8.1 mi
10m
Knox Highway 28
5.9 mi
14m
965 North Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
IL 180
5 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 80.8 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington Heights, IL and Truro, 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 RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355
20 mi·25 min·I 355
Exit 7Toward I 355 South Tollway: JolietUse the slight left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 12AToward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward Joliet Road SouthUse the slight left lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 55
18 mi·21 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 250BToward I 80 West: IowaUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 80
81 mi·1 hr 26 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward IL 40: Sterling, Peoria
13
Turn right onto IL 40
0.1 mi·10 sec·900 East Street
14
Continue on IL 40
1.6 mi·2 min·IL 40
15
Turn right
123 ft·4 sec
16
Turn right onto US 6; US 34
2.5 mi·3 min·County Road 1500 N
17
Continue on US 6; US 34
0.3 mi·29 sec·North Mason Street
18
Continue on US 6; US 34
1.0 mi·1 min·East Railroad Street
19
Turn left onto US 34
1.6 mi·2 min·550 East Street
20
Continue on US 34
0.8 mi·1 min·525 East Street
21
Continue on US 34
3.7 mi·5 min·525 E Street
22
Continue on US 34
5.9 mi·8 min·965 North Avenue
23
Continue on US 34
1.3 mi·1 min·US 34
24
Continue on US 34
216 ft·3 sec·North East Street
25
Continue on US 34
0.5 mi·49 sec·East 2nd Street
26
Turn left onto US 34; IL 78
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
27
Continue on US 34; IL 78
11 mi·16 min·Tenney Street
28
Turn left onto IL 17
0.5 mi·45 sec·South Center Avenue
29
Continue on IL 17
3.5 mi·5 min·IL 17
30
Turn straight onto IL 180
5.0 mi·8 min·IL 180
31
Turn right onto IL 167
1.0 mi·1 min·IL 167
32
Turn left onto Knox Highway 28
5.9 mi·14 min·Knox Highway 28
33
Arrive at destination
Knox Highway 28
Trip Plan
Given the drive is under 4 hours, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic around the Chicago metropolitan area. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 80.8-mile stretch on I 80, as services might be less frequent than in more urban areas. The $28 fuel estimate suggests you won't need to worry too much about cost, but it's always wise to top off before heading out.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89.3 miles from Arlington Heights, IL, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 39 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.3 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Truro, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington Heights, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arlington Heights, IL
This is one driving day of about 178.6 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Arlington Heights, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 80.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 31.8 — 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
31.1 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
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 12A
Toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
7
31.4 mi into trip|~42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Joliet Road South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Joliet Road South
7
31.8 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.92 one way
$55.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.66
$61.31
premium
$4.89
$34.37
$68.74
diesel
$5.61
$39.43
$78.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.6
0
$18.75
$8.57
Efficient EV
44.7
0
$15.63
$7.14
EV Truck/SUV
71.4
0
$25.00
$11.43
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Arlington Heights, IL
Late night
in Arlington Heights on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Truro, IL
Late night
in Truro on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Peru, IL
89 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
3 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
3h 52m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily focused on highways, with 81% of the drive on interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I 80, experiencing a long stretch of 80.8 miles without needing to exit. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur near Truro, IL, marking the end of the more integrated exit system common on interstates. Expect a consistent flow of traffic typical of major highway travel.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 355. 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 Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 178.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 31.1 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.
Between Arlington Heights, IL and Truro, IL, road signs point toward Saint Louis, Joliet Road South and Peoria.
Saint Louis
31.1 mi in|~42m
Joliet Road South
31.4 mi in|~42m
Peoria
131.6 mi in|~2h 33m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 178.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.8 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Truro, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 31.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Truro, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
