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

The driving distance from Arlington Heights, IL to Salem, IL is about 276.6 miles (445.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 244.5 miles (393.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 30m 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
276.65 mi
05h 15m
Flight
244.49 mi
393.47 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
244.49 mi
Kilometers
393.47 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
276.65 mi
Kilometers
445.22 km
Drive Time
05h 15m

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 05h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salem
Thu, Apr 16, 10:35 AM CDT
Return by in Arlington Heights
Thu, Apr 16, 3:51 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington Heights
2026-04-16T05:20
Arrive Salem
Thu, Apr 16, 10:35 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:15 AM to 1:15 PM CDT

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

Leave by
6:30 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
Rantoul
IL

Village in Illinois

From Arlington Heights
138.4 mi
02h 37m
To Salem
138.3 mi
02h 37m

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
78°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    188.4 mi · 3 hr 24 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis

    40.9 mi · 44 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 50: Salem, Sandoval

    2330 ft · 57 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    28 m · 8 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.6 mi · 4 min · West Main Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto South Broadway

    10 m · 1 sec · South Broadway

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Broadway

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
230 mi · 83%
Tri-State Tollway
27.1 mi · 10%
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
6.56 mi · 2%
Cicero Avenue
4.89 mi · 2%
North Arlington Heights Road
3.29 mi · 1%
West Main Street
1.56 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Merge slight left

188 mi · 03h 24m

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
05h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.1 mi
244.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rantoul
02h 37m from Arlington Heights
Leave By
6:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 276.6 miles (445.2 km) and usually takes 05h 15m 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?

Rantoul is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138.4 miles from Arlington Heights and 138.3 miles from Salem.

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

The direct path is about 244.5 miles (393.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.1 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 6:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.80 one way or $73.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.7 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 Showers And Thunderstorms near Salem.

Stop Ideas Near Rantoul

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

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

RAIL

Rantoul

West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

23 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

49 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Gilman

52 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arlington Heights and Salem. Straight-line distance: 244.49 mi (393.47 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
Salem

#2 Salem

City in Illinois

Population6,952
Coordinates38.6269900, -88.9456200
Altitude165
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington Heights (-87.98063, 42.08836)
End: Salem (-88.94562, 38.62699)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 445 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.76 gal
36.95 L · about $36.80
Round trip
$73.61
19.52 gal · 73.9 L
Estimated CO2
86.7 kg one way
Round trip: 173.5 kg / 383 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.80 $73.61
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.51 $83.02
Premium $4.65 $45.42 $90.85
Diesel $5.30 $51.77 $103.53

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 Salem. The current time is 05:20:41.

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.