This 259.2-mile drive from Aurora, IL, to Alton, IL, is achievable in about 5 hours and 3 minutes, making it a solid day trip. You'll be spending a significant portion of your journey on the interstate, with 86% of the route on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $41. Given its manageable duration and focus on major roads, it's a straightforward journey through the Midwest without the need for an overnight stop. Plan for a single, efficient drive to reach your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
129.6 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
189.8 mi
3h 24m
IL 47
22.1 mi
25m
State Route 140
9.6 mi
13m
South Lake Street
5.9 mi
9m
Minkler Road
4.3 mi
6m
College Avenue
3.9 mi
6m
Ashley Road
3.8 mi
5m
East Bethalto Drive
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 189.8 mi, about 3h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Alton, IL.
1
Start on West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi·15 sec·West Galena Boulevard
2
Turn right onto IL 31
5.9 mi·9 min·South Lake Street
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on US 34
1.2 mi·2 min·US 34
4
Turn left onto Orchard Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Orchard Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on Minkler Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Minkler Road
6
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
128 ft·3 sec·Minkler Road
7
Continue on Minkler Road
3.4 mi·5 min·Minkler Road
8
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126
0.5 mi·47 sec·East Schoolhouse Road
9
Turn left onto Ashley Road
3.8 mi·5 min·Ashley Road
10
Turn right onto Caton Farm Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Caton Farm Road
11
Turn left
7.2 mi·9 min
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on North Bridge Street
1.3 mi·1 min·North Bridge Street
13
Continue on IL 47
22 mi·25 min·IL 47
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
15
Merge onto I 55
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, SpringfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
63 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
19
Turn right onto IL 140
0.7 mi·1 min·East State Street
20
Continue on IL 140
9.6 mi·13 min·State Route 140
21
Continue on IL 140
1.8 mi·3 min·East Bethalto Drive
22
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.4 mi·2 min·East MacArthur Drive
23
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
1.3 mi·2 min·West Macarthur Drive
24
Continue on IL 111; IL 140
3.6 mi·6 min·College Avenue
25
Enter roundabout onto College Avenue
397 ft·7 sec·College Avenue
26
Continue on College Avenue
0.3 mi·27 sec·College Avenue
27
Turn left onto US 67
0.9 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Drive
28
Continue on US 67
0.4 mi·36 sec·Piasa Street
29
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·West 3rd Street
30
Turn right onto Alby Street
118 ft·5 sec·Alby Street
31
Arrive at destination
Alby Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Aurora, IL, to maximize your daylight and minimize traffic. With the longest stretch being nearly 190 miles on I-55, plan for one primary fuel and rest stop midway. The fuel cost is estimated at $41, so be sure to budget accordingly. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but breaking up the 189.8-mile segment on I-55 is advisable for comfort. Keep an eye on road conditions, especially as you transition from major interstates to state routes.
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 129.6 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 189.8 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 57 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.6 miles or 2h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alton, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Aurora, 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 Aurora, IL
This is one driving day of about 259.2 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Aurora, 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 I 55 for about 189.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 129.6 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 189.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 111.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 31 / South Lake Street
Turn right onto IL 31 / South Lake Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
12.2 mi into trip|~20m in|IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
Navigation decision point
5
18 mi into trip|~28m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
48.6 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
8
111.4 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.52 one way
$81.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$44.49
$88.99
premium
$4.89
$49.88
$99.76
diesel
$5.61
$57.23
$114.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.8
0
$27.22
$12.44
Efficient EV
64.8
0
$22.68
$10.37
EV Truck/SUV
103.7
1
$36.29
$16.59
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Aurora, IL
Late night
in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph37% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 14 at 12:19PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:55AM CDT until April 20 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Alton, IL
Late night
in Alton on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Bloomington, IL
130 mi in
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
29 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
5h 3m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 169.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 259.2-mile trip, with 86% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 189.8 miles primarily on I-55. The road primarily consists of interstate driving, offering a consistent pace. While the bulk is highway, the inclusion of IL 47 and State Route 140 suggests potential for brief transitions to more local or state road conditions as you approach Alton. Overall, it's a route designed for steady progress.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 189.8 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and IL 47. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 31 / South Lake Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 259.2 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 31 / South Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Aurora, IL and Alton, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Greenville.
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
Alton is a charming river town in Illinois just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. Once a blue collar town of heavy manufacturing, Alton has transformed itself into a tourist destination and wedding and reception resort of the Midwest.
Top landmarks
•Alton National Cemetery — United States National Cemetery located in the city of Alton, in Madison County,...
•Alton Military Prison — prison located in Alton, Illinois
•Upper Alton Historic District — historic district in Illinois, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 259.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 189.8 miles on I 55. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 31 / South Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Alton, IL before the return drive.
