How far is Arlington Heights, IL from Cincinnati, IL?

The driving distance from Arlington Heights, IL to Cincinnati, IL is about 298.7 miles (480.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 256.3 miles (412.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
298.71 mi
06h 08m
Flight
256.32 mi
412.5 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Arlington Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
256.32 mi
Kilometers
412.5 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
298.71 mi
Kilometers
480.72 km
Drive Time
06h 08m

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 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cincinnati
Sat, Apr 18, 2:25 PM CDT
Return by in Arlington Heights
Sat, Apr 18, 8:34 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington Heights
2026-04-18T08:17
Arrive Cincinnati
Sat, Apr 18, 2:25 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:09 PM to 1:39 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:42 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Arlington Heights
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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.

Mid-route stop
Thomasboro
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Arlington Heights
149.4 mi
03h 04m
To Cincinnati
149.3 mi
03h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph WSW
Destination
73°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 16 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Arlington Heights and Cincinnati.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arlington Heights and Cincinnati.

  1. 1

    Start on East Euclid Avenue

    15 m · 6 sec · East Euclid Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Arlington Heights Road

    3.3 mi · 7 min · North Arlington Heights Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 East: Chicago

    2083 ft · 51 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    6.6 mi · 7 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Toll South, I 190 West: Indiana, O'Hare

    1430 ft · 35 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 294 Toll South: Indiana

    2146 ft · 52 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    10.3 mi · 13 min · Tri-State Tollway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway

  10. 10

    Continue on Mile-Long Bridge

    1.5 km · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge

  11. 11

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    8.5 mi · 11 min · Tri-State Tollway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street

    1162 ft · 28 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue

    2529 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Turn straight onto Cicero Avenue

    4.9 mi · 8 min · Cicero Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto 167th Street

    855 ft · 26 sec · 167th Street

  16. 16

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80

    3048 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    183.5 mi · 3 hr 18 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 45: Sigel, Effingham

    1753 ft · 35 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  20. 20

    Turn right onto East Fayette Avenue

    1123 ft · 33 sec · East Fayette Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left onto South Banker Street

    14.9 mi · 22 min · South Banker Street

  22. 22

    Continue on County Road 925 East

    16.2 mi · 24 min · County Road 925 East

  23. 23

    Turn slight left

    41 m · 5 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight right

    3.9 mi · 4 min

  25. 25

    Turn right onto County Road 1400 E

    10.4 mi · 16 min · County Road 1400 E

  26. 26

    Continue on Central Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · Central Street

  27. 27

    Continue on County Road 1800N

    1.4 mi · 2 min · County Road 1800N

  28. 28

    Turn straight onto County Road 1600E

    4.6 mi · 7 min · County Road 1600E

  29. 29

    Continue on Washington Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Washington Street

  30. 30

    Continue on County Road 1600E

    3.9 mi · 6 min · County Road 1600E

  31. 31

    Turn sharp right

    7.1 mi · 11 min

  32. 32

    Turn right onto 900E

    2 mi · 5 min · 900E

  33. 33

    Turn right onto County Road 1000N

    1 mi · 4 min · County Road 1000N

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · County Road 1000N

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Arlington Heights and Cincinnati.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
34 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
184 mi · 62%
Tri-State Tollway
27.1 mi · 9%
County Road 925 East
20.1 mi · 7%
South Banker Street
14.9 mi · 5%
County Road 1400 E
10.4 mi · 3%
County Road 1600E
8.48 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Merge slight left

183 mi · 03h 18m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
06h 08m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42.4 mi
256.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasboro
03h 04m from Arlington Heights
Leave By
11:42 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Arlington Heights and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Cincinnati.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Arlington Heights to Cincinnati?

The road trip is about 298.7 miles (480.7 km) and usually takes 06h 08m 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?

Thomasboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 149.4 miles from Arlington Heights and 149.3 miles from Cincinnati.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 256.3 miles (412.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.4 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 $39.75 one way or $79.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 93.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Arlington Heights and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Cincinnati.

Stop Ideas Near Thomasboro

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Thomasboro, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Thomasboro.

RAIL

Rantoul

8 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

15 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

49 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Gilman

60 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arlington Heights and Cincinnati. Straight-line distance: 256.32 mi (412.5 km).

Arlington Heights

#1 Arlington Heights

Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States; suburb of Chicago, Illinois

Population75,101
Coordinates42.0883600, -87.9806300
Altitude214
CountryUnited States
Cincinnati

#2 Cincinnati

Township in Tazewell County, Illinois

Population8,830
Coordinates38.4008800, -88.5119900
Altitude128
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington Heights (-87.98063, 42.08836)
End: Cincinnati (-88.51199, 38.40088)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 481 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.54 gal
39.9 L · about $39.75
Round trip
$79.49
21.08 gal · 79.8 L
Estimated CO2
93.7 kg one way
Round trip: 187.3 kg / 413 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.75 $79.49
Mid-grade $4.25 $44.83 $89.65
Premium $4.65 $49.05 $98.11
Diesel $5.30 $55.90 $111.81

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Arlington Heights and Cincinnati. The current time is 08:17:10.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.