How far is Arlington Heights, IL from Rock Island, IL?

The driving distance from Arlington Heights, IL to Rock Island, IL is about 174 miles (280 km), with a travel time of about 03h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 139.7 miles (224.8 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
174.01 mi
03h 25m
Flight
139.67 mi
224.77 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
139.67 mi
Kilometers
224.77 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
174.01 mi
Kilometers
280.04 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 Rock Island
Thu, Apr 23, 7:40 AM CDT
Return by in Arlington Heights
Thu, Apr 23, 11:06 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington Heights
2026-04-23T04:15
Arrive Rock Island
Thu, Apr 23, 7:40 AM 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
Flagg
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Arlington Heights
86.9 mi
01h 42m
To Rock Island
87.1 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
79°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arlington Heights and Rock Island.

  1. 1

    Start on East Euclid Avenue

    15 m · 6 sec · East Euclid Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Arlington Heights Road

    3.1 mi · 6 min · North Arlington Heights Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 Toll West: Rockford

    3076 ft · 55 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    52.5 mi · 56 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I-39 South, US 51 South: Bloomington

    1.1 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight right

    2475 ft · 30 sec

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    2.1 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    22.3 mi · 24 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West Toll: Moline, Rock Island

    2931 ft · 50 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    33.8 mi · 36 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  11. 11

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    37.8 mi · 40 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

    5.4 mi · 6 min · Chicago-Kansas City Expressway

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    3.7 mi · 5 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 84 North, IL 92 West: Silvis

    7.9 mi · 20 min

  16. 16

    Continue on 6th Avenue

    588 ft · 17 sec · 6th Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on 5th Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · 5th Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on 4th Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · 4th Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto 15th Street

    141 m · 15 sec · 15th Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 15th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
20 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
52.5 mi · 30%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
38.9 mi · 22%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
33.8 mi · 19%
I-39 South
25.6 mi · 15%
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
9.11 mi · 5%
IL 84 North
7.94 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

52.5 mi · 00h 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 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.3 mi
139.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Flagg
01h 42m from Arlington Heights
Leave By
10:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Arlington Heights and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Rock Island.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Arlington Heights to Rock Island?

The road trip is about 174 miles (280 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?

Flagg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.9 miles from Arlington Heights and 87.1 miles from Rock Island.

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

The direct path is about 139.7 miles (224.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.3 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 $23.15 one way or $46.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Arlington Heights and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Rock Island.

Stop Ideas Near Flagg

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

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

RAIL

Mendota station

39 mi away
783 Main Street
BUS

Rockford, Illinois

43 mi away
7559 Walton St.
RAIL

Plano

56 mi away
101 West Main Street
RAIL

Princeton

63 mi away
107 Bicentennial Dr.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arlington Heights and Rock Island. Straight-line distance: 139.67 mi (224.77 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
Rock Island

#2 Rock Island

City in Illinois

Population36,870
Coordinates41.5094800, -90.5787500
Altitude171
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington Heights (-87.98063, 42.08836)
End: Rock Island (-90.57875, 41.50948)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 280 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 28m
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
6.14 gal
23.24 L · about $23.15
Round trip
$46.31
12.28 gal · 46.48 L
Estimated CO2
54.6 kg one way
Round trip: 109.1 kg / 241 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.15 $46.31
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.11 $52.23
Premium $4.65 $28.58 $57.15
Diesel $5.30 $32.57 $65.13

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 Rock Island. The current time is 04:15:15.

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.