Antioch to Aurora is 60.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 38 minutes via IL 59, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. The route is mostly on the highway, making it a straightforward drive. It’s a short enough distance that you can easily complete it in one day, offering flexibility for when you want to depart or if you encounter any delays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30.3 miles from Antioch, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IL 59
18.8 mi
30m
Illinois Route 59
9 mi
15m
New Sutton Road
9 mi
14m
US 12
6.4 mi
8m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
6.1 mi
7m
North Neltnor Boulevard
4 mi
7m
Sutton Road
2.6 mi
4m
North Lake Street
2.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
IL 59
— 18.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Antioch, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on IL 83
6 ft·5 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto Lake Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Lake Street
3
Continue on IL 59
11 mi·17 min·IL 59
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi·1 min·US 12; IL 59
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.3 mi·26 sec·US 12; IL 59
6
Continue on US 12; IL 59
0.1 mi·7 sec·US 12; IL 59
7
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.7 mi·1 min·US 12; IL 59
8
Continue on US 12; IL 59
1.1 mi·1 min·US 12; IL 59
9
Continue on US 12; IL 59
2.1 mi·3 min·US 12; IL 59
10
Take the exit onto IL 59
7.8 mi·12 min·IL 59
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight right
284 ft·4 sec
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on IL 59
9.0 mi·14 min·New Sutton Road
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on IL 59
2.6 mi·4 min·Sutton Road
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on IL 59
0.6 mi·55 sec·Ingalton Avenue
15
Continue on IL 59
5.4 mi·9 min·Illinois Route 59
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on IL 59
4.0 mi·7 min·North Neltnor Boulevard
17
Continue on IL 59
3.7 mi·6 min·Illinois Route 59
Use the left lane.
18
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 88 West Toll: De Kalb, IowaUse the right lane.
19
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
6.1 mi·7 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 117Toward IL 31, IL 56 EastUse the right lane.
21
Turn right onto IL 31
0.4 mi·52 sec·South Lincolnway Street
22
Continue on IL 31
2.2 mi·4 min·North Lake Street
23
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi·9 sec·West Galena Boulevard
24
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of just under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the peak rush hour in either Antioch or Aurora. There are no designated stops mentioned, so plan to refuel before you leave Antioch if your tank is low, as the estimated fuel cost is only $9. The longest stretch on IL 59 is 18.8 miles, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge during that segment, especially if you are driving a less fuel-efficient vehicle.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30.3 miles from Antioch, IL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 13 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.3 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aurora, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Antioch, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Antioch, IL
This is one driving day of about 60.6 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Antioch, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IL 59 for about 18.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Lake Street
Turn left onto Lake Street
Navigation decision point
5
17.8 mi into trip|~27m in|IL 59
Take the exit onto IL 59
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
50.9 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the ramp toward I 88 West Toll: De Kalb, Iowa
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 88 West Toll: De Kalb, Iowa
5
51.3 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
57.3 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward IL 31, IL 56 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 117
Toward IL 31, IL 56 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.47 one way
$18.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$10.40
$20.80
premium
$4.89
$11.66
$23.32
diesel
$5.61
$13.38
$26.76
Estimated Tolls: $0.36
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(6.1 mi)$0.36
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.2
0
$6.36
$2.91
Efficient EV
15.2
0
$5.30
$2.42
EV Truck/SUV
24.2
0
$8.48
$3.88
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Antioch, IL
Late night
in Antioch on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aurora, IL
Late night
in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Sunny
S 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 38m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 56% of this 60.6-mile drive is on the highway. You'll be on IL 59 for a longest stretch of 18.8 miles. As you transition from highway to surface roads, expect more intersections and potential traffic. This mixed highway and surface road profile means you'll experience both faster cruising and more stop-and-go situations as you get closer to your destination.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.8 mi on IL 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Lake Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 38m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Lake Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.8 miles (IL 59): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Antioch, IL to Aurora, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Iowa along the way.
Aurora is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois, located about 35 miles west of Chicago. It's at the very edge of Chicagoland and, situated on the Fox River, has many opportunities for urban, suburban, and rural recreation. Often overlooked, Aurora in fact has many surprisingly interesting attractions and a downtown unlike that of a typical suburb. It is probably best known for being the setting of the "Wayne's World" movies.
Top landmarks
•Aurora University — private university in Aurora, Illinois, U.S
•Hotel Arthur — United States historic place
•Graham Building — historic building in Aurora, Illinois
The longest stretch is about 18.8 miles on IL 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.36 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Lake Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.8 miles (IL 59): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Aurora, IL before heading back.
