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

The driving distance from Cincinnati, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is about 292.7 miles (471 km), with a travel time of about 05h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 256.3 miles (412.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 04m 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
292.66 mi
05h 02m
Flight
256.32 mi
412.5 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cincinnati.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
256.32 mi
Kilometers
412.5 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
292.66 mi
Kilometers
470.99 km
Drive Time
05h 02m

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 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Arlington Heights
Sat, Apr 18, 11:46 AM CDT
Return by in Cincinnati
Sat, Apr 18, 4:48 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cincinnati
2026-04-18T06:44
Arrive Arlington Heights
Sat, Apr 18, 11:46 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:02 AM to 1:02 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
6:56 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cincinnati
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

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 Cincinnati
150.4 mi
02h 31m
To Arlington Heights
142.3 mi
02h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 16 mph WSW
Destination
64°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on County Road 1000N

    1 mi · 4 min · County Road 1000N

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 900E

    2 mi · 5 min · 900E

  3. 3

    Turn left onto County Road 800 North

    7 mi · 10 min · County Road 800 North

  4. 4

    Turn slight left

    887 ft · 32 sec

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto County Road 1600E

    3.8 mi · 6 min · County Road 1600E

  6. 6

    Continue on Washington Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Washington Street

  7. 7

    Continue on County Road 1600E

    4.6 mi · 7 min · County Road 1600E

  8. 8

    Continue on County Road 1800N

    1.4 mi · 2 min · County Road 1800N

  9. 9

    Continue on Central Street

    2051 ft · 35 sec · Central Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Central Street

    2844 ft · 48 sec · Central Street

  11. 11

    Continue on County Road 1400E

    14.3 mi · 20 min · County Road 1400E

  12. 12

    Turn right onto County Road 925 E

    16.2 mi · 24 min · County Road 925 E

  13. 13

    Continue on United States Route 45

    14.9 mi · 22 min · United States Route 45

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West Fayette Avenue

    1123 ft · 33 sec · West Fayette Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto South 3rd Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South 3rd Street

  16. 16

    Take the ramp right toward I-57 North, I-70 East: Champaign, Terre Haute

    2624 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    1.3 km · 55 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago

    185.5 mi · 3 hr 21 min

  19. 19

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

    1718 ft · 33 sec

  20. 20

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

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    20.8 mi · 26 min · Tri-State Tollway

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    10.3 mi · 13 min · Tri-State Tollway

  23. 23

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

    1071 ft · 26 sec

  24. 24

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

    1534 ft · 38 sec

  25. 25

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

    1.3 km · 2 min

  26. 26

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    929 ft · 12 sec · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  27. 27

    Keep slight left to continue on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    6.1 mi · 7 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward Arlington Heights Road

    1803 ft · 44 sec

  29. 29

    Keep slight right

    152 m · 12 sec

  30. 30

    Turn straight onto North Arlington Heights Road

    647 ft · 15 sec · North Arlington Heights Road

  31. 31

    Continue on South Arlington Heights Road

    3.1 mi · 6 min · South Arlington Heights Road

  32. 32

    Turn left onto East Euclid Avenue

    15 m · 2 sec · East Euclid Avenue

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Euclid Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cincinnati 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
33 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 North
185 mi · 63%
Tri-State Tollway
31.1 mi · 11%
County Road 925 E
16.2 mi · 6%
United States Route 45
14.9 mi · 5%
County Road 1400E
14.3 mi · 5%
County Road 1600E
8.39 mi · 3%
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
05h 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.4 mi
256.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thomasboro
02h 31m from Cincinnati
Leave By
6:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Cincinnati and 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 Cincinnati to Arlington Heights?

The road trip is about 292.7 miles (471 km) and usually takes 05h 02m 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 150.4 miles from Cincinnati and 142.3 miles from Arlington Heights.

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

The direct path is about 256.3 miles (412.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.4 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 6:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.95 one way or $77.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Cincinnati and 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 Cincinnati and Arlington Heights. Straight-line distance: 256.32 mi (412.5 km).

Cincinnati

#1 Cincinnati

Township in Tazewell County, Illinois

Population8,830
Coordinates38.4008800, -88.5119900
Altitude128
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: County Road 1000N (-88.51199, 38.400893)
End: East Euclid Avenue (-87.980632, 42.088281)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 471 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.33 gal
39.09 L · about $38.95
Round trip
$77.91
20.66 gal · 78.18 L
Estimated CO2
91.8 kg one way
Round trip: 183.6 kg / 405 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $38.95 $77.91
Mid-grade $4.25 $43.93 $87.87
Premium $4.65 $48.08 $96.15
Diesel $5.30 $54.79 $109.58

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Cincinnati and Arlington Heights. The current time is 06:44:40.

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.