Origin
Arlington Heights, IL
Afternoon in Arlington Heights on Saturday
Local time
12:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington Heights, IL to Pana, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 30m
Distance
223.2 mi
359 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 17m
★
6 AM
4h 30m
8 AM
4h 57m
10 AM
4h 39m
12 PM
4h 37m
3 PM
4h 41m
5 PM
4h 55m
8 PM
4h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington Heights, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Pana, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Arlington Heights, IL to Pana, IL covers 223.2 miles and takes about 4h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IL 53 South, I 290 East, I 355 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.89 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
111.6 miles from Arlington Heights, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 53 South | — | — |
| I 290 East | — | — |
| I 355 South | — | — |
| I 55 South | — | — |
| Joliet Road South | — | — |
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | — | — |
| I 74 East | — | — |
| US 51 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
IL 53 South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington Heights, IL and Pana, IL.
1
Start on East Euclid Avenue
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
East Euclid Avenue
2
Take the ramp right toward IL 53 South
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
IL 53 South
3
Merge slight left
1.1 mi
·
1 min
4
Keep slight left to continue on I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
5
Keep slight left to continue on I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
20 mi
·
25 min
·
I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
7
Keep slight left to continue on Joliet Road South
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Joliet Road South
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 55 South: Saint Louis
9
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
112 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
11
Take the exit slight right toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Decatur, Bloomington
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Decatur, Bloomington
12
Continue on North 1450 East Road
15 mi
·
17 min
·
North 1450 East Road
13
Continue on North Walnut Street
23 mi
·
29 min
·
North Walnut Street
14
Turn straight
9.9 mi
·
15 min
15
Take the ramp straight toward South Business Route 51
20 mi
·
23 min
·
South Business Route 51
16
Continue on North 2600 East Rd
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
North 2600 East Rd
17
Turn right onto North 2600 East Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2600 East Road
18
Continue on Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jackson Street
19
Turn left onto Cedar Street
466 ft
·
8 sec
·
Cedar Street
20
Turn right onto East 1st Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
21
Turn left onto South Poplar Street
463 ft
·
13 sec
·
South Poplar Street
22
Turn left onto East 2nd Street
85 ft
·
4 sec
·
East 2nd Street
23
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 111.6 miles from Arlington Heights, IL, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
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 49 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.6 miles or 2h 15m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pana, 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 223.2 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 111.6 miles from Arlington Heights, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.89 one way
$69.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.31 | $76.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $42.95 | $85.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.28 | $98.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67 | 0 | $23.44 | $10.71 |
| Efficient EV | 55.8 | 0 | $19.53 | $8.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.3 | 1 | $31.25 | $14.28 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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.
Destination
Pana, IL
Afternoon in Pana on Saturday
Local time
12:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
El Paso, IL
112 mi in
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
22 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
4h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
223.2 mi in 4h 30m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: IL 53 South.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 30m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Arlington Heights, IL to Pana, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
819 ft
556 ft
Total Climb
398 ft
Total Descent
403 ft
Highest Point
819 ft
~143.5 mi in
Elevation Range
263 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 223.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Arlington Heights, IL to Pana, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Pana, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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