How far is Arlington Heights, IL from Chester, IL?
The driving distance from Arlington Heights, IL to Chester, IL is about 346.7 miles (558 km), with a travel time of about 06h 46m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 304.5 miles (490 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 06h 46m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Arlington Heights and Chester.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington Heights and Chester.
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1
Start on East Euclid Avenue
2.7 mi · 6 min · East Euclid Avenue
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2
Take the ramp right toward IL 53 South
1273 ft · 31 sec
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3
Merge slight left
1.1 mi · 2 min
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4
Keep slight left to continue on I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
7 mi · 9 min
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5
Keep slight left to continue on I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
20.1 mi · 25 min
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis
1453 ft · 36 sec
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Joliet Road South
1965 ft · 48 sec
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8
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
706 ft · 17 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
111.5 mi · 2 hr 3 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis
77.9 mi · 1 hr 24 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward IL 159 South: Collinsville
1434 ft · 48 sec
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13
Continue on Vandalia Street
3 mi · 5 min · Vandalia Street
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14
Continue on South Morrison Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · South Morrison Avenue
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15
Continue on North Illinois Street
9.8 mi · 15 min · North Illinois Street
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16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Illinois Street
55 m · 5 sec · South Illinois Street
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17
Exit the rotary onto South Illinois Street
8.3 mi · 13 min · South Illinois Street
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18
Continue on State Route 159
6.1 mi · 9 min · State Route 159
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19
Continue on North Main Street
1163 ft · 20 sec · North Main Street
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20
Continue on N Main St
810 ft · 14 sec · N Main St
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21
Continue on Main Street
8 mi · 12 min · Main Street
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22
Continue straight
23.3 mi · 29 min
-
23
Turn right onto State Street
118 m · 7 sec · State Street
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24
Turn right onto East Stacey Street
38 m · 6 sec · East Stacey Street
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Stacey Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Arlington Heights and Chester.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway
112 mi · 02h 03m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Arlington Heights and Partly Sunny near Chester.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Arlington Heights to Chester?
The road trip is about 346.7 miles (558 km) and usually takes 06h 46m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Lincoln is a useful midpoint, sitting about 173.4 miles from Arlington Heights and 173.3 miles from Chester.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 304.5 miles (490 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.12 one way or $92.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Arlington Heights and Partly Sunny near Chester.
Stop Ideas Near Lincoln
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
City of Lincoln
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lincoln.
Lincoln
Springfield station
Uptown Station
Peoria, Illinois
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Arlington Heights and Chester. Straight-line distance: 304.44 mi (489.95 km).
#1 Arlington Heights
Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States; suburb of Chicago, Illinois
| Population | 75,101 |
| Coordinates | 42.0883600, -87.9806300 |
| Altitude | 214 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Chester
City in Illinois
| Population | 8,145 |
| Coordinates | 37.9136600, -89.8220500 |
| Altitude | 204 |
| Country | United States |
End: Chester (-89.82205, 37.91366)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 558 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 33m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 40m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 56m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 46m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 57m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $46.12 | $92.24 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $52.01 | $104.03 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $56.92 | $113.84 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $64.87 | $129.74 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Illinois · Apr 14, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.