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

The driving distance from Arlington Heights, IL to Pekin, IL is about 175.6 miles (282.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 135.8 miles (218.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 48m 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
175.61 mi
03h 24m
Flight
135.86 mi
218.65 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
135.86 mi
Kilometers
218.65 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
175.61 mi
Kilometers
282.62 km
Drive Time
03h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Pekin
Thu, Apr 23, 6:10 AM CDT
Return by in Arlington Heights
Thu, Apr 23, 9:35 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington Heights
2026-04-23T02:46
Arrive Pekin
Thu, Apr 23, 6:10 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:24 AM to 11:24 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
10:12 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
Odell
IL

Township in Livingston County, Illinois

From Arlington Heights
87.8 mi
01h 42m
To Pekin
87.9 mi
01h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 17 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Euclid Avenue

    2.7 mi · 6 min · East Euclid Avenue

  2. 2

    Take the ramp right toward IL 53 South

    1273 ft · 31 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road

    7 mi · 9 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on I 355 South Tollway: Joliet

    20.1 mi · 25 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 55 South: Joliet Road, Saint Louis

    1453 ft · 36 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Joliet Road South

    1965 ft · 48 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis

    706 ft · 17 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

    105.2 mi · 1 hr 56 min · Adlai Stevenson Expressway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 74 West: Peoria

    2888 ft · 49 sec

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    27.4 mi · 29 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island

    5.1 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 29: Pekin, East Peoria

    1906 ft · 52 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    766 ft · 13 sec · South Main Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Radio City Drive

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Radio City Drive

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Radio City Drive

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Radio City Drive

  17. 17

    Continue on North 8th Street

    3002 ft · 51 sec · North 8th Street

  18. 18

    Continue on North 5th Street

    2473 ft · 47 sec · North 5th Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Margaret Street

    1057 ft · 18 sec · Margaret Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Court Street

    143 m · 15 sec · Court Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto South 8th Street

    68 m · 4 sec · South 8th Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 8th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
105 mi · 60%
I 74 West
28 mi · 16%
I 355 South Tollway
20.1 mi · 11%
I 290 East
7 mi · 4%
I 474 West
5.05 mi · 3%
Radio City Drive
3.65 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Adlai Stevenson Expressway

Merge slight left onto Adlai Stevenson Expressway

105 mi · 01h 56m

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 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.8 mi
135.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Odell
01h 42m from Arlington Heights
Leave By
10:12 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Arlington Heights and Mostly Sunny near Pekin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 175.6 miles (282.6 km) and usually takes 03h 24m 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?

Odell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.8 miles from Arlington Heights and 87.9 miles from Pekin.

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

The direct path is about 135.8 miles (218.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.8 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 10:12 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.38 one way or $46.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Arlington Heights and Mostly Sunny near Pekin.

Stop Ideas Near Odell

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

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

RAIL

Dwight station

13 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

17 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Gilman

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

Kankakee

57 mi away
199 South East Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arlington Heights and Pekin. Straight-line distance: 135.86 mi (218.65 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
Pekin

#2 Pekin

County seat of Tazewell County, Illinois

Population31,808
Coordinates40.5675400, -89.6406600
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington Heights (-87.98063, 42.08836)
End: Pekin (-89.64066, 40.56754)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 283 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.2 gal
23.46 L · about $23.38
Round trip
$46.76
12.4 gal · 46.92 L
Estimated CO2
55.1 kg one way
Round trip: 110.2 kg / 243 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.38 $46.76
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.37 $52.74
Premium $4.65 $28.85 $57.71
Diesel $5.30 $32.88 $65.77

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Arlington Heights and Pekin. The current time is 02:46:34.

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.