Origin
Arlington Heights, IL
Evening in Arlington Heights on Tuesday
Local time
6:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington Heights, IL to Carmi, IL
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
6h 37m
Distance
315.9 mi
508 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 26m
★
6 AM
6h 38m
8 AM
7h 2m
10 AM
6h 46m
12 PM
6h 44m
3 PM
6h 47m
5 PM
7h 1m
8 PM
6h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington Heights, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Carmi, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Arlington Heights, IL to Carmi, IL covers 315.9 miles and takes about 6h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, Tri-State Tollway, County Road 1150 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 156.5 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.39 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
158 miles from Arlington Heights, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 4m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Arlington Heights, IL to Carmi, IL covers 315.9 miles and takes about 6h 37m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 156.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 3.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 315.9 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 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 East: Chicago
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 90 East: Chicago
8
10.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward I 294 Toll South, I 190 West: Indiana, O'Hare
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 77A
Toward I 294 Toll South, I 190 West: Indiana, O...
6
26 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
38.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
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 12 B-A
Toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th...
8
39.1 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 12A
Toward IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 156.5 mi | 2h 49m |
| Tri-State Tollway | 27.1 mi | 33m |
| County Road 1150 | 24.3 mi | 33m |
| North 1250th Street | 13.3 mi | 19m |
| South Van Buren Street | 11 mi | 15m |
| Route 130 | 10 mi | 14m |
| South Cross Street | 8.6 mi | 12m |
| County Road 1100 East | 6.7 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 156.5 mi, about 2h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington Heights, IL and Carmi, IL.
1
Start on East Euclid Avenue
48 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Euclid Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Arlington Heights Road
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
North Arlington Heights Road
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 90 East: Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 90
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 77A
Toward I 294 Toll South, I 190 West: Indiana, O'Hare
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 294 Toll South: Indiana
7
Merge onto I 294
10 mi
·
13 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 294
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mile-Long Bridge
11
Continue on I 294
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 12 B-A
Toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 12A
Toward IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn straight onto IL 50; IL 83
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Cicero Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto 167th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
167th Street
Use the left lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80
17
Merge onto I 57
157 mi
·
2 hr 49 min
·
I 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 190A
Toward IL 16 East: Charleston
19
Turn straight onto IL 16
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Charleston Avenue East
20
Continue on IL 16
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Illinois Route 16
21
Continue on IL 16
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
22
Turn right onto IL 130
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
18th Street
23
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Illinois Route 130
24
Continue on IL 130
10.0 mi
·
14 min
·
Route 130
25
Continue on IL 130
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 1825 East
26
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 1775 E
27
Continue on IL 130
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Haughton Highway
28
Continue on IL 130
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
1700E
29
Continue on IL 130
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
North Haughton Highway
30
Continue on IL 130
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
County Road 1700E
31
Continue on IL 130
13 mi
·
19 min
·
North 1250th Street
32
Turn left onto IL 130
11 mi
·
15 min
·
South Van Buren Street
33
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road 1100 East
34
Continue on IL 130
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
North West Street
35
Continue on IL 130
24 mi
·
33 min
·
County Road 1150
Use the straight lane.
36
Turn left onto IL 130
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Walnut Street
37
Turn right onto IL 130
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South 1st Street
38
Continue on IL 130
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
575E
39
Continue on IL 130
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
700E
40
Continue on IL 130
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
725E
41
At end of road, turn right onto IL 1
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Court Street
42
Continue on IL 1
8.6 mi
·
12 min
·
South Cross Street
43
Continue on IL 1; IL 14
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
East Main Street
44
Arrive at destination
IL 1; IL 14
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 158 miles from Arlington Heights, IL, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.5 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 80 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158 miles or 3h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carmi, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington Heights, 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 Arlington Heights, IL
This is one driving day of about 315.9 miles and 6h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Arlington Heights, 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 156.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 158 mi from Arlington Heights, IL · 3h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
158 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 158 miles from Arlington Heights, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 156.5 miles.
Arriving in Carmi, IL
The final approach into Carmi, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Carmi, IL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.39 one way
$98.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $54.23 | $108.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $60.79 | $121.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $69.75 | $139.49 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.09
Tri-state Tollway
(27.1 mi)
$1.63
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
(6.6 mi)
$0.46
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
$49
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.8 | 1 | $33.17 | $15.16 |
| Efficient EV | 79 | 0 | $27.64 | $12.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.4 | 1 | $44.23 | $20.22 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Carmi, IL
Evening in Carmi on Tuesday
Local time
6:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live 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
16 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
6h 37m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Arlington Heights, IL to Carmi, IL covers 315.9 miles and takes about 6h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Tri-State Tollway, County Road 1150. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 158 miles from Arlington Heights, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.39 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 315.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Arlington Heights, IL to Carmi, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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