Overview
Arlington Heights is a city in northeastern Chicagoland. The 2010 Census put the population at 75,101, the largest for a village in the United States. Arlington Heights is known for the Arlington Park Race Track as well as a large Japanese community, third in the state behind neighboring Schaumburg and Chicago proper. Some notable people have come from the village as well, including Walter Payton, Ted Nugent, and Ray Kroc (founder of McDonald's).
1 sights · 3 things to do · 1 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Arlington Heights
Arlington Park
Before its closure in 2021, it was one of the premier horse-racing tracks in the Midwest; Arlington Park had been in operation since 1929. It was the home of the Arlington Million, a Breeders' Cup Classic qualifying race…
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre
One block from the Arlington Heights Metra stop, this 350-seat theater is part of a larger village development called the Metropolis. Besides the theater you'll find a club called The Boiler Room, shops, and apartments.
Janus Theater
Affiliated with the Arlington Heights Park District, this venue stages summer outdoor productions throughout the northwest suburbs.
Karaoke
At the Korean-owned Ding Dong Dang, karaoke the Asian way with your own personal booth. Don't worry about other patrons hearing your sad attempt at Bohemian Rhapsody, just your friends. Surprisingly cheap, although if yo…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 20°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Jun. (climate data from nearby Chicago)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ORD Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago — 8 mi away (major hub). Directions
- MDW Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago — 24 mi away (major hub). Directions
Interstate 90 (The Jane Addams Memorial Tollway) serves as the fastest way into and out of Arlington heights, and makes up the southern border of the city. This is also the fastest way to and from Chicago and O'Hare International Airport. Illinois 53 makes up another thoroughfare on the westside, and leaving south on that expressway will eventually lead you to Interstate 290 (an alternate route to downtown Chicago) and Interstate 355 (towards Joliet). Other major arteries include U.S. 12 (Rand Road), U.S. 14 (Northwest Highway), Illinois 62 (Algonquin Road), and Illinois 68 (Dundee Road).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Arlington Park, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre
- Lunch Sushi Station
- Afternoon Karaoke, Janus Theater
- Evening Peggy Kinnane's Irish Restaurant and Pub
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Interstate 90 (The Jane Addams Memorial Tollway) serves as the fastest way into and out of Arlington heights, and makes up the southern border of the city. This is also the fastest way to and from Chicago and O'Hare International Airport. Illinois 53 makes up another thoroughfare on the westside, and leaving south on that expressway will eventually lead you to Interstate 290 (an alternate route to downtown Chicago) and Interstate 355 (towards Joliet). Other major arteries include U.S. 12 (Rand Road), U.S. 14 (Northwest Highway), Illinois 62 (Algonquin Road), and Illinois 68 (Dundee Road).
By train
Arlington Heights is served by two stations on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line: Arlington Heights and Arlington Park. Frequent service (as well as some express trains) between 6:40am and 1:15am during the week, with less frequent service on weekends, can allow for a side trip to Chicago or any other suburb on the line. No service to Arlington Heights is provided by Amtrak or the CTA.
Go Arlington Heights railway station
Go Arlington Park station
By bus
Pace bus is the sole provider of bus service of any kind in Arlington Heights. Routes 594, 606, 616, 690, and 696 make up all of the routes that are within city limits. Routes 594 and 696 have stops at the Arlington Heights Metra station, making connections to and from the train possible. no buses stop at the Arlington Park station, however, route 696 does stop at the actual race track. Bus intervals are infrequent, and you should plan to spend an extra hour or two at least in bus transit times. Route 594 is a dial a ride service for Arlington Heights and Rolling Meadows, and vehicles are timed to meet Metra trains. No intercity buses stop in Arlington Heights.
Get around
By car
Like most of the suburbs, driving is the easiest way to get around. Interstate 90 (The Jane Addams Memorial Tollway) serves as the fastest way into and out of Arlington heights, and makes up the southern border of the city. This is also the fastest way to and from Chicago and O'Hare International Airport. Illinois 53 makes up another thoroughfare on the westside, and leaving south on that expressway will eventually lead you to Interstate 290 (an alternate route to downtown Chicago) and Interstate 355 (towards Joliet). Other major arteries include U.S. 12 (Rand Road), U.S. 14 (Northwest Highway), Illinois 62 (Algonquin Road), and Illinois 68 (Dundee Road).
By train
Arlington Heights is served by two stations on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest Line, however trying to use the train as a means of transportation may not work out to your benefit, unless your destination is Arlington Park. The train does not reach most areas, due to the size of the village
By bus
Pace bus is the sole provider of bus service of any kind in Arlington Heights. Routes 594, 606, 616, 690, and 696 make up all of the routes that are within city limits. All of these routes extend beyond Arlington heights, so trying to get from suburb to suburb, or say, Woodfield mall, is made easier by using these regional routes. Tying to move around Arlington Heights is more difficult, as no routes reach further north than the Arlington Heights Metra station.
See
See Arlington Park
Before its closure in 2021, it was one of the premier horse-racing tracks in the Midwest; Arlington Park had been in operation since 1929. It was the home of the Arlington Million, a Breeders' Cup Classic qualifying race. Owner Churchill Downs Inc. announced plans in February 2021 to sell all 326 acres of Arlington Park property for redevelopment. The park is now officially closed and no more horse races will ever take place. As of September 2021, it has not been bulldozed to the ground yet. The Chicago Bears, the area's representative in the NFL, are reportedly on the verge of buying the property in order to build a new stadium.
Do
Do Karaoke
At the Korean-owned Ding Dong Dang, karaoke the Asian way with your own personal booth. Don't worry about other patrons hearing your sad attempt at Bohemian Rhapsody, just your friends. Surprisingly cheap, although if you order any of the Korean food or alcohol the tab will start to add up.
Buy
Eat
Eat Sushi Station
This sushi restaurant is in the mechanical tradition of a 回転寿司 (rotating sushi) restaurant straight from Tokyo.
Drink
Drink Peggy Kinnane's Irish Restaurant and Pub
With live music Friday and Saturday evenings, a prime downtown location, and a loyal clientele, Peggy Kinnane's is a step above other Chicagoland Irish pubs.
Drink Beer on the Wall
Good selection of craft beers.
Sleep
Go next
- Elgin, to the west, is a large city along the Fox River and a buffer town between Chicagoland and Northern Illinois. There's a casino downtown, a large park with museums, and beautiful Victorian homes.
- Schaumburg, Arlington Heights' sister village to the south, has the humongous Woodfield Mall, which is the most visited tourist attraction in Illinois.
- Des Plaines is the home of the first McDonald's opened under the direction of Ray Kroc.
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My experience
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