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Trip from Murphysboro, IL to Arlington Heights, IL

Drive Time

6h 50m

Distance

358.5 mi

577 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$54

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

23 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
6h 39m ★
6 AM
6h 51m
8 AM
7h 14m
10 AM
6h 59m
12 PM
6h 57m
3 PM
7h 0m
5 PM
7h 13m
8 PM
6h 44m

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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city in Illinois, United States

Murphysboro, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Arlington Heights, IL, IL

Arlington Heights, IL

Dominik Gryzbon

Trip Overview

The drive from Murphysboro, IL to Arlington Heights, IL covers 358.5 miles and takes about 6h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, Tri-State Tollway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 185.5 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.45 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

179.3 miles from Murphysboro, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 24m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 6h 50m highway drive covering 358.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 185.5 miles on I 57.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 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 185.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Ken Gray Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 128.6 miles in near I 57.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 358.5 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 128.6 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 314.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 314.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
128.6 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | I 57

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57 toward I 57 North: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 57 North: Chicago
8
314.1 mi into trip | ~5h 51m 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
314.4 mi into trip | ~5h 51m 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
347.3 mi into trip | ~6h 33m 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
347.5 mi into trip | ~6h 34m 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...

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Murphysboro, IL to Arlington Heights, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin along the way.

Wisconsin

314.1 mi in | ~5h 51m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 57 185.5 mi 3h 21m
Ken Gray Expressway 104.1 mi 1h 52m
Tri-State Tollway 31.1 mi 39m
IL 149 11.3 mi 16m
Herrin Road 6.8 mi 10m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway 6.3 mi 6m
West Herrin Street 3.1 mi 5m
South Arlington Heights Road 3.1 mi 6m
Longest stretch: I 57 — 185.5 mi, about 3h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North 11th Street

65 ft · 8 sec · North 11th Street
2

Turn left onto IL 149

0.5 mi · 1 min · Walnut Street
3

Turn left onto IL 127; IL 149

0.9 mi · 1 min · North 2nd Street
4

Turn right onto IL 149

11 mi · 16 min · IL 149
5

Turn right onto Cambria Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Cambria Road
6

Enter roundabout onto Herrin Road

219 ft · 4 sec · Herrin Road
7

Continue on Herrin Road

3.5 mi · 5 min · Herrin Road
8

Continue on West Herrin Street

3.1 mi · 5 min · West Herrin Street
9

Continue on Herrin Road

3.3 mi · 4 min · Herrin Road
10

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
11

Merge onto I 57

37 mi · 39 min · Ken Gray Expressway
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 57

67 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Ken Gray Expressway
Toward I 57 North: Chicago
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57

185 mi · 3 hr 21 min · I 57
Toward I 57 North: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Exit 349-350 Toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork

1.8 mi · 3 min
Exit 349 Toward I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16

Merge onto I 294

21 mi · 25 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork onto I 294

10 mi · 13 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 40 Toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Rockford, River Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago
20

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Merge onto I 90

0.2 mi · 12 sec · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
22

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

6.1 mi · 6 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Exit 70 Toward Arlington Heights Road Use the slight right lane.
24

Keep slight right at fork

498 ft · 12 sec
Use the right lane.
25

Turn straight onto North Arlington Heights Road

0.1 mi · 14 sec · North Arlington Heights Road
26

Continue on South Arlington Heights Road

3.1 mi · 6 min · South Arlington Heights Road
Use the left lane.
27

Turn left onto East Euclid Avenue

48 ft · 1 sec · East Euclid Avenue
28

Arrive at destination

East Euclid Avenue

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 179.3 miles from Murphysboro, IL, or about 3h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.5 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 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 179.3 miles or 3h 24m 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 34m

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 Murphysboro, 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 Murphysboro, IL

This is one driving day of about 358.5 miles and 6h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Murphysboro, 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 185.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 179.3 mi from Murphysboro, IL · 3h 24m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Champaign, IL

179 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

Frankfort, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Champaign, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 179.3 miles from Murphysboro, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 185.5 miles.

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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Arlington Heights, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Pullman National Historical Park

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...

9 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 321.4
Caution: Road Construction Near the Park
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$54.45 one way

$108.90 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 125 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $60.03 $120.06
premium $4.80 $67.68 $135.35
diesel $5.64 $79.65 $159.29

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

$54

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$82–$107

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 125.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

23 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Subway - Tesla Supercharger

Salem, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Holiday Inn - Tesla Supercharger

Effingham, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

County Market - Tesla Supercharger

Champaign, IL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Mach 1 - Tesla Supercharger

Marion, IL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Mach 1 - Tesla Supercharger

Mt. Vernon, IL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Holiday Inn Mt. Vernon - Tesla Supercharger

Mt. Vernon, IL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Jack Flash - Effingham - Tesla Supercharger

Effingham, IL

Tesla

6 DCFC

Walkers Bluff

Carterville, IL

RED_E

4 DCFC

Tesla: 7 RED_E: 5 ChargePoint Network: 3 Electrify America: 2 Blink Network: 2 CIRCLE_K: 1 eVgo Network: 1 UNIVERSAL: 1 Non-Networked: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 107.6 1 $37.64 $17.21
Efficient EV 89.6 1 $31.37 $14.34
EV Truck/SUV 143.4 1 $50.19 $22.94

Gas CO2

125 kg

EV CO2

42 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Murphysboro, IL

Morning in Murphysboro on Monday

Local time

10:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arlington Heights, IL

Morning in Arlington Heights on Monday

Local time

10:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

45°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

34 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

6h 50m 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 Murphysboro, IL to Arlington Heights, IL covers 358.5 miles and takes about 6h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Ken Gray Expressway, Tri-State Tollway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 179.3 miles from Murphysboro, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.45 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 21 significant decision points across 358.5 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 128.6 miles (I 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 314.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 314.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Murphysboro, IL to Arlington Heights, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin along the way.

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