How far is Arlington Heights, IL from Thornton, IL?
The driving distance from Arlington Heights, IL to Thornton, IL is about 51.5 miles (82.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 10m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 40.8 miles (65.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 21m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 01h 10m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
Village in Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Likely
Partly Sunny then Rain Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Arlington Heights and Thornton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington Heights and Thornton.
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1
Start on East Euclid Avenue
15 m · 6 sec · East Euclid Avenue
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2
Turn right onto North Arlington Heights Road
3.3 mi · 7 min · North Arlington Heights Road
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3
Take the ramp slight right toward I 90 East: Chicago
2083 ft · 51 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
6.6 mi · 7 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
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5
Take the exit slight right toward I 294 Toll South, I 190 West: Indiana, O'Hare
1430 ft · 35 sec
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6
Keep slight left to continue on I 294 Toll South: Indiana
2146 ft · 52 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
10.3 mi · 13 min · Tri-State Tollway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway
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10
Continue on Mile-Long Bridge
1.5 km · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge
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11
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
15.1 mi · 19 min · Tri-State Tollway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway
2.7 mi · 3 min · Tri-State Tollway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward IL 1: Halsted Street
1185 ft · 29 sec
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14
Keep slight right to continue on IL 1 South: Halsted Street
2096 ft · 51 sec
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15
Turn straight onto Halsted Street
1.4 km · 2 min · Halsted Street
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16
Turn left onto Ridge Road
1.5 km · 2 min · Ridge Road
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17
At the end of the road, turn right onto Margaret Street
1.4 km · 2 min · Margaret Street
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18
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Margaret Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Arlington Heights and Thornton.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Tri-State Tollway
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
15.1 mi · 00h 19m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Likely leaving Arlington Heights and Partly Sunny then Rain Likely near Thornton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Arlington Heights to Thornton?
The road trip is about 51.5 miles (82.9 km) and usually takes 01h 10m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Western Springs is a useful midpoint, sitting about 25.7 miles from Arlington Heights and 25.7 miles from Thornton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 40.8 miles (65.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:08 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.86 one way or $13.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Rain Likely around Arlington Heights and Partly Sunny then Rain Likely near Thornton.
Stop Ideas Near Western Springs
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Western Springs.
La Grange Road
Summit
Naperville
Chicago Union Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Arlington Heights and Thornton. Straight-line distance: 40.74 mi (65.57 km).
#1 Arlington Heights
Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States; suburb of Chicago, Illinois
| Population | 75,101 |
| Coordinates | 42.0883600, -87.9806300 |
| Altitude | 214 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Thornton
Village in Cook County, Illinois, USA
| Population | 2,367 |
| Coordinates | 41.5680900, -87.6081000 |
| Altitude | 182 |
| Country | United States |
End: Thornton (-87.6081, 41.56809)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 83 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 42m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 01h 17m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 01h 01m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 51m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 44m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 38m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $6.86 | $13.73 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $7.74 | $15.48 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $8.47 | $16.94 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $9.65 | $19.31 |
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 · May 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.