Origin
Sandwich, IL
Afternoon in Sandwich on Sunday
Local time
2:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sandwich, IL to Arlington Heights, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
61.9 mi
100 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sandwich, IL
Costin Cerednicenco
Arlington Heights, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 61.9-mile drive from Sandwich, IL, to Arlington Heights, IL, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes. Primarily utilizing IL 56 and the Veterans Memorial Tollway, you'll find about 54% of the journey on highways, making it a relatively efficient commute. The estimated fuel cost is a budget-friendly $10, and with no suggested stops, this route offers a quick transition between two Midwest locations. Its mixed drive profile means you'll experience a blend of road types, ensuring a varied, though not overly complex, travel experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 56 | 22.1 mi | 27m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 10.6 mi | 13m |
| East Church Street | 7.1 mi | 13m |
| I 290 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Eldamain Road | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| US 30 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| IL 53 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Euclid Avenue | 2.5 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
IL 56
— 22.1 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sandwich, IL and Arlington Heights, IL.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 34
7.1 mi
·
13 min
·
East Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto Eldamain Road
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Eldamain Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto Galena Road
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Galena Road
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto North Bridge Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Bridge Street
6
Continue on US 30; IL 47
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
US 30; IL 47
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward IL 56 East: Chicago
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto IL 56
22 mi
·
27 min
·
IL 56
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 132
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 355
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward East Euclid Avenue, Third District, Circuit Court
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn slight right onto Euclid Avenue
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Euclid Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
East Euclid Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.9 miles from Sandwich, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 59.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 34 / East Church Street
Turn left onto US 34 / East Church Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
7.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
Eldamain Road
Turn left onto Eldamain Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
10.8 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
Galena Road
Turn right onto Galena Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
39.4 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 132
Toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
7
59.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m 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
$9.68 one way
$19.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.63 | $21.25 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.91 | $23.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.67 | $27.33 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(10.6 mi)
$0.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.42 | $2.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.67 | $3.96 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Arlington Heights, IL
Afternoon in Arlington Heights on Sunday
Local time
2:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 10 mph
38% chance
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
18 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
1h 27m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this 61.9-mile route, with 54% of it being highway driving. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 22.1 miles on IL 56, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. As you progress, the roads will transition, moving from more open stretches to potentially busier sections as you approach your destination. While not an entirely monotonous interstate experience, it’s primarily functional, designed for efficient travel within the Midwest.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.1 mi on IL 56.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 34 / East Church Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (US 34 / East Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.2 miles (Eldamain Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles (Galena Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 61.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.1 miles on IL 56. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.74 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 0.1 miles (US 34 / East Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.2 miles (Eldamain Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles (Galena Road): 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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