This 150.6-mile journey from Arthur, IL to Aurora, IL is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 41 minutes to complete. You'll primarily be on IL 9 and county roads, with about 58% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $24. Given the relatively short distance and duration, it's perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stop. This Midwest drive offers a mixed driving experience, so pack some snacks and be ready for varied road conditions.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.3 miles from Arthur, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IL 9
77.9 mi
1h 49m
County Road 6
9.2 mi
12m
County Road 400 East
7.7 mi
10m
IL 31
5.9 mi
9m
North County Road 000 East
4.6 mi
6m
County Road 300 E
4.5 mi
6m
County Road 350 East
4.5 mi
6m
Minkler Road
4.3 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
IL 9
— 77.9 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arthur, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on South Vine Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Vine Street
2
Continue on North County Road 000 East
4.6 mi·6 min·North County Road 000 East
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 36
0.6 mi·51 sec·United States Route 36
4
Continue on US 36
522 ft·14 sec·County Road 950 North
5
Turn left onto Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
6
Continue on North County Road 50 East
0.4 mi·40 sec·North County Road 50 East
7
Continue on County Highway 14
1.6 mi·2 min·County Highway 14
8
Continue on North County Road 50E
3.4 mi·5 min·North County Road 50E
9
Continue on CR 17
4.0 mi·7 min·County Road 00 East
10
Continue on CR 17
0.4 mi·44 sec·County Line Street
11
Continue on CR 17
1.0 mi·1 min·Johnson Street
12
Continue on CR 17
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road 17
13
Turn left onto CR 6
9.2 mi·12 min·County Road 6
14
Continue on CR 6
1.6 mi·2 min·Main Street
15
Continue on CR 6
0.1 mi·14 sec·County Road 200 East
16
Continue on CR 6
0.1 mi·19 sec·Main Street
17
Turn right onto IL 10
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road 1600 N
18
Turn left onto IL 47
4.5 mi·6 min·County Road 300 E
19
Continue on IL 47
0.9 mi·1 min·South Division Street
20
Turn right onto US 150; IL 47
0.4 mi·50 sec·East Oak Street
21
Turn left onto IL 47
0.5 mi·1 min·South Lombard Street
22
Continue on IL 47
0.2 mi·28 sec·County Road 400 East
23
Continue on IL 47
4.5 mi·6 min·County Road 350 East
24
Continue on IL 47
7.5 mi·10 min·County Road 400 East
25
Continue on IL 47
2.1 mi·2 min·County Road 450 East
26
Continue on IL 47
3.5 mi·4 min·North 450 East Road
27
Continue on IL 47
383 ft·7 sec·North 450E Road
28
Continue on IL 47
0.4 mi·54 sec·South Sangamon Avenue
29
Turn left onto IL 9; IL 47; IL 54
0.5 mi·53 sec·West 1st Street
30
Turn slight right
138 ft·7 sec
31
Turn right onto IL 9; IL 47
78 mi·1 hr 49 min·IL 9; IL 47
Use the straight lane.
32
Turn right onto Walker Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Walker Road
33
Turn left onto Ashley Road
2.8 mi·3 min·Ashley Road
34
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126
0.5 mi·46 sec·East Schoolhouse Road
35
Turn left onto Minkler Road
3.4 mi·4 min·Minkler Road
36
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
126 ft·3 sec·Minkler Road
37
Continue on Minkler Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Minkler Road
38
Continue on Orchard Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Orchard Road
Use the left lane.
39
Turn right onto US 34
1.2 mi·2 min·US 34
Use the right lane.
40
Continue on IL 31
2.5 mi·4 min·IL 31
41
Continue on IL 31
3.4 mi·5 min·IL 31
Use the left lane.
42
Turn left onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi·9 sec·West Galena Boulevard
Use the left lane.
43
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Trip Plan
This trip is easily doable in a single day, making it flexible. Aim to leave Arthur in the morning to give yourself ample time to reach Aurora without feeling rushed. With a total duration of around 3 hours and 41 minutes and a longest stretch of 77.9 miles, you might only need one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition off the main highway onto county roads, as services might be less frequent in those stretches. The estimated fuel cost is $24, so budget accordingly.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.3 miles from Arthur, IL, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.9 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 33 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.3 miles or 1h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h
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 Arthur, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arthur, IL
This is one driving day of about 150.6 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Arthur, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on IL 9 for about 77.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.3 and 150.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
5.3 mi into trip|~8m in|US 36 / United States Route 36
At end of road, turn right onto US 36 / United States Route 36
Navigation decision point
5
137.9 mi into trip|~3h 21m in|IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
Navigation decision point
5
141.7 mi into trip|~3h 26m in|Minkler Road
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
143.4 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|US 34
Turn right onto US 34
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
150.5 mi into trip|~3h 41m in|West Galena Boulevard
Turn left onto West Galena Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.54 one way
$47.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.85
$51.70
premium
$4.89
$28.98
$57.96
diesel
$5.61
$33.25
$66.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.2
0
$15.81
$7.23
Efficient EV
37.7
0
$13.18
$6.02
EV Truck/SUV
60.2
0
$21.08
$9.64
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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
Arthur, IL
Late night
in Arthur on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aurora, IL
Late night
in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live 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
3 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
3h 41m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this 150.6-mile route, with 58% of it being highway. The road character shifts throughout the journey, moving from potentially faster highway sections to more local county roads. You'll encounter one significant stretch of 77.9 miles on IL 9, which will likely be your longest continuous driving segment. This means you'll experience a blend of speeds and road types, so staying alert is key as you transition between different driving environments.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.9 mi on IL 9.
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 around 5.3 miles in near US 36 / United States Route 36.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 41m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (US 36 / United States Route 36): Navigation decision point; at 137.9 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 141.7 miles (Minkler Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 77.9 miles on IL 9. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (US 36 / United States Route 36): Navigation decision point; at 137.9 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 141.7 miles (Minkler Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Aurora, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
