How far is River Forest, IL from Arlington Heights, IL?
The driving distance from River Forest, IL to Arlington Heights, IL is about 19.2 miles (30.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 15.7 miles (25.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 07m 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 33m.
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.
City in Cook County, Illinois, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between River Forest and Arlington Heights.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between River Forest and Arlington Heights.
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1
Start on Augusta Street
97 m · 15 sec · Augusta Street
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2
Turn right onto Lathrop Avenue
1.2 km · 3 min · Lathrop Avenue
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3
Turn left onto North Avenue
1.6 km · 2 min · North Avenue
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4
Turn right onto North 1st Avenue
2872 ft · 1 min · North 1st Avenue
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5
Turn left onto Des Plaines River Road
4.3 mi · 9 min · Des Plaines River Road
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6
Continue on North River Road
1.2 mi · 3 min · North River Road
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7
Turn left onto West Higgins Road
1.3 km · 1 min · West Higgins Road
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8
Take the ramp right toward I 90 Toll West
1334 ft · 33 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
6 mi · 7 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward Arlington Heights Road
1803 ft · 44 sec
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11
Keep slight right
152 m · 12 sec
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12
Turn straight onto North Arlington Heights Road
647 ft · 15 sec · North Arlington Heights Road
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13
Continue on South Arlington Heights Road
3.1 mi · 6 min · South Arlington Heights Road
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14
Turn left onto East Euclid Avenue
15 m · 2 sec · East Euclid Avenue
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15
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Euclid Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between River Forest 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.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
6.01 mi · 00h 07m
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.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving River Forest and Mostly Cloudy then Rain Likely near Arlington Heights.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from River Forest to Arlington Heights?
The road trip is about 19.2 miles (30.9 km) and usually takes 00h 33m 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?
Park Ridge is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9.3 miles from River Forest and 9.9 miles from Arlington Heights.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 15.7 miles (25.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.5 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 7:22 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.56 one way or $5.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around River Forest and Mostly Cloudy then Rain Likely near Arlington Heights.
Stop Ideas Near Park Ridge
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 Park Ridge.
Glenview station
La Grange Road
Chicago Union Station
Summit
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between River Forest and Arlington Heights. Straight-line distance: 15.7 mi (25.27 km).
#1 River Forest
Village in Cook County, Illinois, United States
| Population | 10,694 |
| Coordinates | 41.8978100, -87.8139500 |
| Altitude | 192 |
| 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: 31 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 38m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 28m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 23m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 16m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 14m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $2.56 | $5.13 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $2.89 | $5.78 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $3.16 | $6.33 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $3.61 | $7.21 |
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.