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

The driving distance from Arlington Heights, IL to Monticello, IL is about 174.3 miles (280.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 145.6 miles (234.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
174.31 mi
03h 25m
Flight
145.68 mi
234.45 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
145.68 mi
Kilometers
234.45 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
174.31 mi
Kilometers
280.52 km
Drive Time
03h 25m

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 03h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Monticello
Thu, Apr 16, 7:41 PM CDT
Return by in Arlington Heights
Thu, Apr 16, 11:07 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington Heights
2026-04-16T16:16
Arrive Monticello
Thu, Apr 16, 7:41 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:26 AM to 11:26 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Arlington Heights
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Otto
IL

Township in Kankakee County, Illinois

From Arlington Heights
87.2 mi
01h 42m
To Monticello
87.1 mi
01h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph WSW
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 17 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    110.8 mi · 2 hr

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 72 West: Decatur

    2596 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    15.1 mi · 16 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 105: Market Street

    1941 ft · 52 sec

  21. 21

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Old Route 47

    1931 ft · 36 sec · Old Route 47

  22. 22

    Turn right onto North Market Street

    2 mi · 4 min · North Market Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto West Center Street

    6 m · 1 sec · West Center Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Center Street

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
111 mi · 64%
Tri-State Tollway
27.1 mi · 16%
I 72 West
15.5 mi · 9%
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
6.56 mi · 4%
Cicero Avenue
4.89 mi · 3%
North Arlington Heights Road
3.29 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Merge slight left

111 mi · 02h 00m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.7 mi
145.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Otto
01h 42m from Arlington Heights
Leave By
10:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Arlington Heights and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Monticello.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 174.3 miles (280.5 km) and usually takes 03h 25m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Otto is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.2 miles from Arlington Heights and 87.1 miles from Monticello.

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

The direct path is about 145.6 miles (234.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.7 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.19 one way or $46.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Arlington Heights and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Monticello.

Stop Ideas Near Otto

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Otto, 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 Otto.

RAIL

Kankakee

8 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Gilman

33 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Dwight station

45 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Joliet Transportation Center

55 mi away
50 East Jefferson Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arlington Heights and Monticello. Straight-line distance: 145.68 mi (234.45 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
Monticello

#2 Monticello

City in Piatt County, Illinois, United States

Population5,557
Coordinates40.0278100, -88.5734000
Altitude201
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington Heights (-87.98063, 42.08836)
End: Monticello (-88.5734, 40.02781)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 281 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.15 gal
23.28 L · about $23.19
Round trip
$46.38
12.3 gal · 46.56 L
Estimated CO2
54.7 kg one way
Round trip: 109.3 kg / 241 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.19 $46.38
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.16 $52.31
Premium $4.65 $28.62 $57.24
Diesel $5.30 $32.62 $65.24

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Arlington Heights and Monticello. The current time is 16:16:14.

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.