Origin
Mokena, IL
Late night in Mokena on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mokena, IL to Arlington Heights, 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 6m
Distance
50 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mokena, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington Heights, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 50-mile drive from Mokena, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 6 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate using Veterans Memorial Tollway and I-290, with a portion on Maple Road. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $8. Given its relatively short distance and straightforward path through the Midwest, it's a convenient option for a quick excursion or commute. No overnight stays are needed, and with zero planned stops, you can be on your way without delay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 31.1 mi | 36m |
| I 290 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Maple Road | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| IL 53 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Wolf Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Euclid Avenue | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| West 179th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West South West Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Tollway
— 31.1 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mokena, IL and Arlington Heights, IL.
1
Start on Wolf Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Wolf Road
2
Turn left onto West 179th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 179th Street
3
Turn left onto US 6
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
West South West Highway
4
Continue on US 6
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Maple Road
5
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I 355 Toll North: West Suburbs
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 355
31 mi
·
36 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward East Euclid Avenue, Third District, Circuit Court
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn slight right onto Euclid Avenue
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Euclid Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
East Euclid Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25 miles from Mokena, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 7.2 and 47.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
7.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the ramp toward I 355 Toll North: West Suburbs
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 355 Toll North: West Suburbs
5
7.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
38.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
I 290
Merge onto I 290
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
44.5 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
47.2 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward East Euclid Avenue, Third District, Circuit Court
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.
Toward East Euclid Avenue, Third District, Circ...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.82 one way
$15.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.58 | $17.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.62 | $19.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.04 | $22.08 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.18
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(31.1 mi)
$2.18
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Arlington Heights, IL
Late night in Arlington Heights on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
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 6m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this route, despite a significant highway share. While 17% of the journey is on highways like Veterans Memorial Tollway and I-290, the experience is punctuated by local road segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.1 miles on the Veterans Memorial Tollway. This suggests a drive that blends faster highway travel with more frequent turns and slower speeds as you transition onto local roads, requiring your attention throughout.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.1 mi on Veterans Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 7.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50 miles you will encounter 8 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 7.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.9 miles (I 290): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Mokena, IL to Arlington Heights, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Third District along the way.
Third District
47.2 mi in
|
~1h
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 50 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m 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 31.1 miles on Veterans Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.18 in tolls one way, starting with Veterans 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.
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 7.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles (I 355 / Veterans Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.9 miles (I 290): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Arlington Heights, 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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