How far is McHenry, IL from Arlington Heights, IL?
The driving distance from McHenry, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is about 26.7 miles (43 km), with a travel time of about 00h 41m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 22.4 miles (36 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 41m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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 Lake County, Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between McHenry and Arlington Heights.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McHenry and Arlington Heights.
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1
Start on the route
22 m · 11 sec
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2
Turn left
33 m · 10 sec
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3
Turn right onto North Green Street
1.4 km · 3 min · North Green Street
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4
Turn right onto West Elm Street
2.6 mi · 5 min · West Elm Street
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5
Continue on Rand Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · Rand Road
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6
Continue on West Belvidere Road
1.9 mi · 3 min · West Belvidere Road
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7
Turn right
615 ft · 8 sec
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8
Continue straight
575 ft · 7 sec
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9
Continue straight
1.7 mi · 2 min
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10
Continue straight
1.1 mi · 1 min
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11
Continue straight
16.1 mi · 24 min
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12
Turn right onto North Arlington Heights Road
1.7 mi · 4 min · North Arlington Heights Road
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13
Turn right onto East Euclid Avenue
15 m · 2 sec · East Euclid Avenue
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14
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Euclid Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between McHenry and Arlington Heights.
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.
West Belvidere Road
Continue straight
16.1 mi · 00h 24m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Mostly Cloudy leaving McHenry and Partly Cloudy near Arlington Heights.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from McHenry to Arlington Heights?
The road trip is about 26.7 miles (43 km) and usually takes 00h 41m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Wauconda is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.6 miles from McHenry and 13.1 miles from Arlington Heights.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 22.4 miles (36 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:06 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.54 one way or $7.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around McHenry and Partly Cloudy near Arlington Heights.
Stop Ideas Near Wauconda
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 Wauconda.
Glenview station
Naperville
La Grange Road
Sturtevant station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between McHenry and Arlington Heights. Straight-line distance: 22.38 mi (36.02 km).
#1 McHenry
City in Illinois
| Population | 27,100 |
| Coordinates | 42.3333500, -88.2667500 |
| Altitude | 243 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: East Euclid Avenue (-87.980632, 42.088281)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 43 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 53m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 40m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 32m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 26m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 20m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $3.54 | $7.09 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $4.00 | $8.00 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $4.37 | $8.75 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $4.99 | $9.97 |
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 03, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.