York, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is 255.8 miles and takes about 5h 30m via I 57 and Tri-State Tollway, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a predominantly highway drive, so it's a straightforward route for a single day. The estimated fuel cost of $40 makes it a budget-friendly option for covering the 255.8 miles. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a direct path between these two points.
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
127.9 miles from York, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
145.1 mi
2h 37m
Tri-State Tollway
31.1 mi
39m
IL 1
30.7 mi
45m
West Jasper Street
10.7 mi
18m
E County Road 200 N
8.8 mi
15m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
6.3 mi
6m
Illinois Route 133
6 mi
10m
South Arlington Heights Road
3.1 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 145.1 mi, about 2h 37m
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 York, IL and Arlington Heights, IL.
1
Start on North York Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·North York Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto West Broadway Street
0.2 mi·56 sec·West Broadway Street
3
Continue on East 150th Road
1.9 mi·7 min·East 150th Road
4
Turn sharp right onto IL 1
31 mi·45 min·IL 1
5
Turn left onto US 150; IL 16; IL 133
11 mi·18 min·West Jasper Street
6
Continue on IL 133
1.3 mi·2 min·East 1200th Road
7
Continue on IL 133
1.6 mi·2 min·East 1220th Road
8
Continue on IL 133
0.7 mi·1 min·East 1225th Road
9
Continue on IL 133
1.0 mi·1 min·East 1850th Road
10
Continue on IL 133
5.3 mi·9 min·Illinois Route 133
11
Continue on IL 133
3.6 mi·6 min·E County Road 200 N
12
Continue on IL 133
0.6 mi·1 min·Illinois Route 133
13
Continue on IL 133
1.5 mi·2 min·East County Road 200 North
14
Continue on IL 133
1.6 mi·2 min·E County Road 200 N
15
Continue on IL 133
1.2 mi·2 min·East County Road 200 North
16
Continue on IL 133
3.6 mi·6 min·E County Road 200 N
17
Continue on IL 133
0.3 mi·32 sec·East County Road 200 North
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I-57 North: Champaign
19
Merge onto I 57
145 mi·2 hr 37 min·I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
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.
21
Keep slight right at fork
1.8 mi·3 min
Exit 349Toward I 294 Toll North: WisconsinUse the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Merge onto I 294
21 mi·25 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
10 mi·13 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
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.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: RockfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto I 90
0.2 mi·12 sec·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
6.1 mi·6 min·Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 70Toward Arlington Heights RoadUse the slight right lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork
498 ft·12 sec
Use the right lane.
31
Turn straight onto North Arlington Heights Road
0.1 mi·14 sec·North Arlington Heights Road
32
Continue on South Arlington Heights Road
3.1 mi·6 min·South Arlington Heights Road
Use the left lane.
33
Turn left onto East Euclid Avenue
48 ft·1 sec·East Euclid Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
East Euclid Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 30m estimated drive time, departing in the morning from York, IL is ideal for reaching Arlington Heights, IL with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a 255.8-mile distance, you can comfortably complete this in a single day without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 145.1-mile stretch on I 57, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. The $40 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra. Consider leaving early to avoid potential afternoon traffic as you approach the Chicago metropolitan area.
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 127.9 miles from York, IL, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.1 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 56 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.9 miles or 3h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 29m
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 York, 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 York, IL
This is one driving day of about 255.8 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from York, 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 145.1 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 211.3 and 245.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
211.3 mi into trip|~4h 30m 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
211.7 mi into trip|~4h 31m 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
244.6 mi into trip|~5h 13m 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
244.8 mi into trip|~5h 14m 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
245.1 mi into trip|~5h 14m 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
$42.67 one way
$85.34 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$46.56
$93.12
premium
$5.25
$52.90
$105.80
diesel
$6.28
$63.20
$126.41
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
$43
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.7
0
$26.86
$12.28
Efficient EV
64
0
$22.38
$10.23
EV Truck/SUV
102.3
1
$35.81
$16.37
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
York, IL
Morning
in York on Thursday
Local time
6:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
ESE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Arlington Heights, IL
Morning
in Arlington Heights on Thursday
Local time
6:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
SSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 30m 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
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 211.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 71% of the 255.8 miles on highways, primarily I 57 and the Tri-State Tollway. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 145.1 miles on I 57, offering extended periods of cruising. After the highway segments, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. This means you'll experience a significant portion of the drive with fewer exits and more consistent speeds before encountering more local traffic patterns.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.1 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 211.3 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 17 significant decision points across 255.8 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 211.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 244.6 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
764 ft451 ft
Total Climb
539 ft
Total Descent
288 ft
Highest Point
764 ft
~127.9 mi in
Elevation Range
312 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 York, 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 5h 30m. Total distance: 255.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 145.1 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 27 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 211.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 244.6 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Arlington Heights, IL before the return drive.
