Spanning 54.4 miles across the Midwest, this trip from Lansing to Arlington Heights is a straightforward journey typically taking about 1 hour and 13 minutes. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, as it functions perfectly as a quick transit across the region. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, it is a highly economical route for those looking to move between these two Illinois locations. Since the distance is relatively short, you won't need to worry about an overnight stay or complex logistics. Whether you are traveling for business or a personal visit, this route provides a direct path that keeps your travel time minimal.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tri-State Tollway
40.3 mi
51m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
6.3 mi
6m
South Arlington Heights Road
3.1 mi
6m
Ridge Road
1 mi
1m
Torrence Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
North Arlington Heights Road
0.1 mi
<1m
East Euclid Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 40.3 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lansing, IL and Arlington Heights, IL.
1
Start on this road
24 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Ridge Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Ridge Road
3
Turn right onto IL 83
0.9 mi·1 min·Torrence Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward I 80 West, I 294 NorthUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 80; I 294
4.8 mi·6 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
0.8 mi·1 min·Tri-State Tollway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
24 mi·29 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
10 mi·13 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 40Toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Rockford, River RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: RockfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 90
0.2 mi·12 sec·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
6.1 mi·6 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 70Toward Arlington Heights RoadUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
498 ft·12 sec
Use the right lane.
17
Turn straight onto North Arlington Heights Road
0.1 mi·14 sec·North Arlington Heights Road
18
Continue on South Arlington Heights Road
3.1 mi·6 min·South Arlington Heights Road
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto East Euclid Avenue
48 ft·1 sec·East Euclid Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
East Euclid Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Lansing, 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 50.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West, I 294 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 80 West, I 294 North
8
43.2 mi into trip|~55m in
Take the exit toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Rockford, River 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 40
Toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International A...
7
43.4 mi into trip|~56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chi...
7
43.7 mi into trip|~57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford
7
50.8 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward Arlington Heights Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70
Toward Arlington Heights Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.50 one way
$17.01 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg19 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$9.34
$18.68
premium
$4.89
$10.47
$20.94
diesel
$5.61
$12.01
$24.02
Estimated Tolls: $2.85
Tri-state Tollway
(40.3 mi)$2.42
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(6.1 mi)$0.43
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
16.3
0
$5.71
$2.61
Efficient EV
13.6
0
$4.76
$2.18
EV Truck/SUV
21.8
0
$7.62
$3.48
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 12, 2026
Origin
Lansing, IL
Night
in Lansing on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 to 30 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:21AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Arlington Heights, IL
Night
in Arlington Heights on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 to 30 mph51% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:21AM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:46PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 13m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that balances regional highway travel with necessary suburban navigation. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 40.3 miles on the Tri-State Tollway, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you transition onto the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and eventually navigate South Arlington Heights Road, the road's personality shifts from high-speed transit to local traffic patterns. Because the highway share is 0% of the total route profile, you should prepare for a mix of tollway cruising and technical maneuvering through local intersections. This drive requires your attention as you navigate the final approach into Arlington Heights.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.3 mi on Tri-State Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
708 ft601 ft
Total Climb
175 ft
Total Descent
101 ft
Highest Point
708 ft
~52.1 mi in
Elevation Range
106 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lansing, IL and Arlington Heights, IL, road signs point toward Chicago and Rockford.
Chicago
43.2 mi in|~55m
Rockford
43.2 mi in|~55m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 54.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.3 miles on Tri-State Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.85 in tolls one way, starting with Tri-state 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.
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 Arlington Heights, 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 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Arlington Heights, IL before heading back.
