Origin
Coal City, IL
Afternoon in Coal City on Saturday
Local time
12:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Coal City, IL to Arlington Heights, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
67.8 mi
109 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Coal City, IL
Braeson Holland
Arlington Heights, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 67.8-mile drive from Coal City, Illinois, to Arlington Heights, Illinois, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via I-55, Veterans Memorial Tollway, and I-290, with about 60% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this Midwest to Midwest excursion is around $11. This route offers a straightforward, mixed-drive experience perfect for a quick hop between these Illinois locations without needing an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 67.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with a significant 60% of the journey utilizing highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.6 miles on I-55, offering a period of consistent cruising. As you progress, the road character will shift from the initial interstate feel to a combination of tollways and further interstate segments leading into the Chicago metropolitan area. This blend means you'll experience varying traffic patterns and road types throughout the approximately 1 hour and 28-minute drive.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 32.6 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 3.2 miles in near I 55.
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 67.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 3.2 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
35.7 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
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 269
Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest...
5
36.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
6
62.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
65 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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...
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 Coal City, IL to Arlington Heights, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs along the way.
Southwest Suburbs
35.7 mi in
|
~43m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 32.6 mi | 37m |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | 19.2 mi | 24m |
| I 290 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| IL 53 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Euclid Avenue | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| West Division Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| West Coal City Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Euclid Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 32.6 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Coal City, IL and Arlington Heights, IL.
1
Start on IL 113
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West Division Street
2
Continue on IL 113
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Coal City Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 55 North: Joliet
4
Merge onto I 55
33 mi
·
37 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 269
Toward I 355 Toll: Northwest Suburbs, Southwest Suburbs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 355 North: Northwest Suburbs
7
Merge onto I 355
19 mi
·
24 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 290
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward East Euclid Avenue, Third District, Circuit Court
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn slight right onto Euclid Avenue
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Euclid Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
East Euclid Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.9 mi from Coal City, IL · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.9 miles from Coal City, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arlington Heights, IL
The final approach into Arlington Heights, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.60 one way
$21.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.64 | $23.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.05 | $26.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.97 | $29.94 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.35
Veterans Memorial Tollway
(19.2 mi)
$1.35
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$1
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.12 | $3.25 |
| Efficient EV | 17 | 0 | $5.93 | $2.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.49 | $4.34 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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 Saturday
Local time
12:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Woodridge, IL
34 mi in
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
1 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 28m 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 Coal City, IL to Arlington Heights, IL covers 67.8 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, Veterans Memorial Tollway, I 290. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.9 miles from Coal City, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.60 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.8 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Coal City, IL to Arlington Heights, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Southwest Suburbs along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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