Origin
Sterling, IL
Evening in Sterling on Wednesday
Local time
6:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sterling, IL to Arlington Heights, IL
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 51m
Distance
116.3 mi
187 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington Heights, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sterling, IL to Arlington Heights, IL covers 116.3 miles and takes about 1h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East 2nd Street, 1st Avenue, East Rock Falls Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.18 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
58.1 miles from Sterling, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 51m drive with frequent turns across 116.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 2nd 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 Sterling, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is easy. At 1h 51m 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 Sterling, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 2nd Street | — | — |
| 1st Avenue | — | — |
| East Rock Falls Road | — | — |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | — | — |
| I 355 | — | — |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | — | — |
| East Euclid Avenue | — | — |
| Euclid Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East 2nd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling, IL and Arlington Heights, IL.
1
Start on Locust Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Locust Street
2
Keep slight right to continue on East 2nd Street
472 ft
·
10 sec
·
East 2nd Street
3
Turn straight onto 1st Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Avenue
4
Turn left onto East Rock Falls Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
East Rock Falls Road
5
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
88 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 355 Toll North: Northwest Suburbs
8
Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Tollway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
9
Merge slight left
5.6 mi
·
6 min
10
Keep slight left
2.7 mi
·
3 min
11
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
12
Turn slight right onto Euclid Avenue
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Euclid Avenue
13
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 58.1 miles from Sterling, IL, or about 55m 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 26 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.1 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
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 Sterling, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sterling, IL
This is one driving day of about 116.3 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Sterling, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.1 mi from Sterling, IL · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.1 miles from Sterling, 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
$18.18 one way
$36.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.96 | $39.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.38 | $44.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.68 | $51.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.9 | 0 | $12.21 | $5.58 |
| Efficient EV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.18 | $4.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.5 | 0 | $16.28 | $7.44 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Evening in Arlington Heights on Wednesday
Local time
6:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Aurora, IL
58 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
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 51m 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 Sterling, IL to Arlington Heights, IL covers 116.3 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 2nd Street, 1st Avenue, East Rock Falls Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.1 miles from Sterling, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.18 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 Sterling, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is easy. At 1h 51m 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 Sterling, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sterling, IL to Arlington Heights, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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