Trip from Aurora, IL to Arlington Heights, IL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

47m

Distance

40.7 mi

66 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min

4 AM

0h 43m ★

6 AM

0h 47m

8 AM

0h 55m

10 AM

0h 50m

12 PM

0h 49m

3 PM

0h 50m

5 PM

0h 55m

8 PM

0h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

Driving from Aurora to Arlington Heights is a straightforward 40.7-mile trip across the Illinois Midwest. You can expect to spend about 47 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. With a fuel budget of just $6, it is an incredibly affordable route that requires no overnight stops. You will navigate primarily via North Lake Street, South Lincolnway Street, and a brief segment of I-88 West. Because both cities reside within the same region, you will experience a consistent suburban Midwestern atmosphere throughout the drive.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

20.4 miles from Aurora, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .

Drive Character

This 40.7-mile excursion is defined by its turn-heavy local nature rather than high-speed interstate cruising. You will spend 0% of your time on highways, meaning your focus remains on navigating local surface streets throughout the entire duration. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches, as the road shifts frequently while you transition between North Lake Street and South Lincolnway Street. Expect a hands-on driving experience that requires constant attention to turns rather than the monotony of a long-distance highway grind.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

North Lake Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Aurora, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is easy. At 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North Lake Street	—	—
South Lincolnway Street	—	—
I 88 West	—	—
I 88 East	—	—
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway	—	—
I 355	—	—
Veterans Memorial Tollway	—	—
East Euclid Avenue	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North Lake Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Arlington Heights, IL.

1

Start on West Galena Boulevard

0.1 mi · 15 sec · West Galena Boulevard

2

Turn left onto North Lake Street

2.2 mi · 4 min · North Lake Street

3

Continue on South Lincolnway Street

0.4 mi · 39 sec · South Lincolnway Street

4

Take the ramp left toward I 88 West Toll, IL 56 West Toll: Chicago, Dekalb-Iowa

387 ft · 10 sec · I 88 West Toll, IL 56 West Toll: Chicago, Dekalb-Iowa

5

Keep slight right to continue on I 88 East: Chicago

0.1 mi · 18 sec · I 88 East: Chicago

6

Continue on I 88 East: Chicago

0.2 mi · 22 sec · I 88 East: Chicago

7

Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

15 mi · 19 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

8

Take the exit slight right toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs

9

Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway

11 mi · 13 min · Veterans Memorial Tollway

10

Merge slight left

5.6 mi · 6 min

11

Keep slight left

2.7 mi · 3 min

12

Take the exit slight right toward East Euclid Avenue, Third District, Circuit Court

0.4 mi · 45 sec · East Euclid Avenue, Third District, Circuit Court

13

Turn slight right onto Euclid Avenue

2.5 mi · 5 min · Euclid Avenue

14

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a short 47-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, given the turn-heavy local roads, it is wise to plan your route in advance to avoid unnecessary navigation stress during peak hours. You won't need to worry about fuel stops or rest breaks given the short distance, as your $6 gas budget should easily cover the trip. My best advice for this specific route is to stay alert for frequent turns, as the lack of highway miles means you will be navigating intersections more often than you might expect on a typical commute.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 20.4 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 23m 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 40.7 miles or 47m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 20.4 miles or 23m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington Heights, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Aurora, IL.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Aurora, IL

This is one driving day of about 40.7 miles and 47m.

At 40.7 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20.4 mi from Aurora, IL · 23m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Glen Ellyn, IL

20 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

Rolling Meadows, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Glen Ellyn, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Arlington Heights, IL

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Arlington Heights, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.36 one way

$12.73 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$6.99	$13.97
premium	$4.89	$7.83	$15.66
diesel	$5.61	$8.99	$17.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	12.2	$4.27	$1.95
Efficient EV	10.2	$3.56	$1.63
EV Truck/SUV	16.3	$5.70	$2.60

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Aurora, IL

Evening in Aurora on Wednesday

Local time

7:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arlington Heights, IL

Evening in Arlington Heights on Wednesday

Local time

7:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

47m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Aurora, IL to Arlington Heights, IL covers 40.7 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Lake Street, South Lincolnway Street, I 88 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 20.4 miles from Aurora, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.36 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

The drive from Aurora, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is easy. At 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Aurora, IL to Arlington Heights, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Arlington Heights, IL to Aurora, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

41.5 mi 59m

Explore more options from Aurora, IL or browse trips ending in Arlington Heights, IL.

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