Plainfield, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is 240.1 miles and takes about 4h 47m via I 57 and Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, connecting two points in the greater Chicago area. Given the relatively short duration and highway focus, it's a straightforward trip, suitable for a single day of travel. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it an efficient way to cover the distance if you're looking for a direct route.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
120 miles from Plainfield, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
158.9 mi
2h 52m
Tri-State Tollway
31.1 mi
39m
Route 130
10 mi
14m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
6.3 mi
6m
Illinois Route 16
5.3 mi
7m
North 1250th Street
4.7 mi
7m
South Haughton Highway
4 mi
5m
South Arlington Heights Road
3.1 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 158.9 mi, about 2h 52m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~928 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,278
Quietest
2 AM
~107 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plainfield, IL and Arlington Heights, IL.
1
Start on North 1280th Street
61 ft·5 sec·North 1280th Street
2
Turn right onto North Street
0.4 mi·53 sec·North Street
3
Turn right onto IL 130
4.7 mi·7 min·North 1250th Street
4
Continue on IL 130
2.1 mi·3 min·County Road 1700E
5
Continue on IL 130
4.0 mi·5 min·South Haughton Highway
6
Continue on IL 130
1.3 mi·1 min·1700E
7
Continue on IL 130
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Haughton Highway
8
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·County Road 1775 E
9
Continue on IL 130
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 1825 E
10
Continue on IL 130
10.0 mi·14 min·Route 130
11
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·Illinois Route 130
12
Continue on IL 130
1.6 mi·2 min·18th Street
13
Turn left onto IL 16
2.5 mi·4 min·Lincoln Avenue
14
Continue on IL 16
5.3 mi·7 min·Illinois Route 16
15
Continue on IL 16
0.4 mi·38 sec·Charleston Avenue East
16
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
17
Merge onto I 57
159 mi·2 hr 52 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 349-350Toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, WisconsinUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
1.8 mi·3 min
Exit 349Toward I 294 Toll North: WisconsinUse the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Merge onto I 294
21 mi·25 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
10 mi·13 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
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.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: RockfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto I 90
0.2 mi·12 sec·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
6.1 mi·6 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 70Toward Arlington Heights RoadUse the slight right lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork
498 ft·12 sec
Use the right lane.
29
Turn straight onto North Arlington Heights Road
0.1 mi·14 sec·North Arlington Heights Road
30
Continue on South Arlington Heights Road
3.1 mi·6 min·South Arlington Heights Road
Use the left lane.
31
Turn left onto East Euclid Avenue
48 ft·1 sec·East Euclid Avenue
32
Arrive at destination
East Euclid Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4h 47m drive, consider leaving Plainfield in the morning to avoid peak Chicago traffic. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but aiming for one stop around the halfway point of the 158.9-mile I 57 stretch could break up the drive nicely. Keep an eye on your fuel, budgeting around $36, as toll roads can sometimes have fewer immediate fuel options. The Tri-State Tollway section will likely involve tolls, so be prepared for that.
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 120 miles from Plainfield, IL, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.9 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 53 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington Heights, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Plainfield, 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 Plainfield, IL
This is one driving day of about 240.1 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Plainfield, 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 57 for about 158.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 195.6 and 229.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
195.6 mi into trip|~3h 48m in
Take the exit toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin
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 349-350
Toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevar...
8
195.9 mi into trip|~3h 48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 349
Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin
8
228.8 mi into trip|~4h 30m 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
229 mi into trip|~4h 31m 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
229.3 mi into trip|~4h 31m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.22 one way
$74.45 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$40.82
$81.63
premium
$4.93
$46.58
$93.17
diesel
$5.60
$52.93
$105.85
Estimated Tolls: $2.30
Tri-state Tollway
(31.1 mi)$1.87
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72
0
$25.21
$11.52
Efficient EV
60
0
$21.01
$9.60
EV Truck/SUV
96
1
$33.61
$15.37
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Aug 22, 2026
Origin
Plainfield, IL
Morning
in Plainfield on Friday
Local time
6:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 5 mph55% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued August 21 at 11:32PM CDT until August 22 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued August 21 at 9:53PM CDT until August 22 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Arlington Heights, IL
Morning
in Arlington Heights on Friday
Local time
6:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
W 5 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued August 21 at 11:32PM CDT until August 22 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued August 21 at 9:53PM CDT until August 22 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
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
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
4h 47m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 198.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 73% of the route on major roads like I 57 and the Tri-State Tollway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 158.9 miles on I 57 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a consistent cruising speed for the majority of the drive, punctuated by the typical urban merging and dense exits as you approach the Chicago metropolitan area.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 158.9 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Tri-State Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 195.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 240.1 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 195.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 195.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 228.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
771 ft562 ft
Total Climb
433 ft
Total Descent
293 ft
Highest Point
771 ft
~102.3 mi in
Elevation Range
208 ft
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 Plainfield, IL to Arlington Heights, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin along the way.
Arlington Heights is a city in northeastern Chicagoland. The 2010 Census put the population at 75,101, the largest for a village in the United States. Arlington Heights is known for the Arlington Park Race Track as well as a large Japanese community, third in the state behind neighboring Schaumburg and Chicago proper. Some notable people have come from the village as well, including Walter Payton, Ted Nugent, and Ray Kroc (founder of McDonald's).
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 47m. Total distance: 240.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 158.9 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.30 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.
Yes — we found about 28 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
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. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 195.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 195.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 228.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Arlington Heights, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
