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

The driving distance from Centralia, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is about 299.9 miles (482.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 253.6 miles (408.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 17m 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
299.87 mi
04h 38m
Flight
253.58 mi
408.09 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Centralia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
253.58 mi
Kilometers
408.09 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
299.87 mi
Kilometers
482.6 km
Drive Time
04h 38m

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 04h 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Arlington Heights
Wed, Apr 15, 8:11 PM CDT
Return by in Centralia
Thu, Apr 16, 12:50 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Centralia
2026-04-15T15:32
Arrive Arlington Heights
Wed, Apr 15, 8:11 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:39 AM to 12:39 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
7:42 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Centralia
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
Thomasboro
IL

City in Illinois, United States of America

From Centralia
146.1 mi
02h 19m
To Arlington Heights
153.8 mi
02h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 4:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 mph SW
Destination
74°F
Today

Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 7:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Poplar Street

    25 m · 8 sec · South Poplar Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 3rd Street

    133 m · 25 sec · East 3rd Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South Elm Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · South Elm Street

  4. 4

    Continue on South Broadway

    1.4 km · 1 min · South Broadway

  5. 5

    Continue on County Road 180 East

    4.3 mi · 6 min · County Road 180 East

  6. 6

    Continue on South Mine Street

    3231 ft · 54 sec · South Mine Street

  7. 7

    Continue on N Mine St

    990 ft · 13 sec · N Mine St

  8. 8

    Continue on North Mine Street

    106 m · 5 sec · North Mine Street

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right

    41 m · 4 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right

    7.8 mi · 9 min

  11. 11

    Turn left

    2149 ft · 54 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    46.6 mi · 50 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    185.5 mi · 3 hr 21 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 83, I 294 Toll North: Sibley Boulevard, 147th Street, Wisconsin

    1718 ft · 33 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 294 Toll North: Wisconsin

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    20.8 mi · 26 min · Tri-State Tollway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    10.3 mi · 13 min · Tri-State Tollway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 190 West, I 90: O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Rockford, River Road

    1071 ft · 26 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West Toll, I 90 East: Rockford, Chicago

    1534 ft · 38 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 Toll West: Rockford

    1.3 km · 2 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    929 ft · 12 sec · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    6.1 mi · 7 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward Arlington Heights Road

    1803 ft · 44 sec

  24. 24

    Keep slight right

    152 m · 12 sec

  25. 25

    Turn straight onto North Arlington Heights Road

    647 ft · 15 sec · North Arlington Heights Road

  26. 26

    Continue on South Arlington Heights Road

    3.1 mi · 6 min · South Arlington Heights Road

  27. 27

    Turn left onto East Euclid Avenue

    15 m · 2 sec · East Euclid Avenue

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Euclid Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
185 mi · 62%
North Mine Street
46.7 mi · 16%
Tri-State Tollway
31.1 mi · 10%
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
6.3 mi · 2%
County Road 180 East
4.29 mi · 1%
South Arlington Heights Road
3.07 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 57 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

185 mi · 03h 21m

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
04h 38m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.3 mi
253.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasboro
02h 19m from Centralia
Leave By
7:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Centralia and Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Arlington Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 299.9 miles (482.6 km) and usually takes 04h 38m 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?

Thomasboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 146.1 miles from Centralia and 153.8 miles from Arlington Heights.

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

The direct path is about 253.6 miles (408.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.3 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 7:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.90 one way or $79.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Centralia and Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Arlington Heights.

Stop Ideas Near Thomasboro

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

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

RAIL

Rantoul

8 mi away
West Sangamon and North Kentucky Aves.
RAIL

Illinois Terminal

15 mi away
45 East University Ave.
BUS

Danville, Illinois

49 mi away
379 Lynch Road
RAIL

Gilman

60 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Centralia and Arlington Heights. Straight-line distance: 253.58 mi (408.09 km).

Centralia

#1 Centralia

Township in Marion County, Illinois

Population12,142
Coordinates38.5250500, -89.1334000
Altitude150
CountryUnited States
Arlington Heights

#2 Arlington Heights

Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States; suburb of Chicago, Illinois

Population75,101
Coordinates42.0883600, -87.9806300
Altitude214
CountryUnited States
Start: US 51 (-89.133516, 38.525072)
End: East Euclid Avenue (-87.980632, 42.088281)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 483 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.58 gal
40.06 L · about $39.90
Round trip
$79.79
21.16 gal · 80.12 L
Estimated CO2
94 kg one way
Round trip: 188 kg / 414 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.90 $79.79
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.00 $89.99
Premium $4.65 $49.24 $98.48
Diesel $5.30 $56.12 $112.23

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Centralia and Arlington Heights. The current time is 15:32:32.

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.