This 168.1-mile drive from Aurora, IL to Arcola, IL is a straightforward Midwest journey, easily manageable as a one-day trip. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 30 minutes on the road, with a fuel cost estimated at $26. The route is primarily highway-focused, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Illinois communities. You'll mainly use I-57 and I-55, with a brief stint on County Road North 303 West. Given its manageable length and focus on major roadways, this trip offers a practical transit experience rather than an extended scenic adventure.
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
84.1 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
103.5 mi
1h 50m
I 55
15.8 mi
18m
County Road North 303 West
7.8 mi
13m
Lincoln Highway
7.4 mi
11m
Old Chicago Road
3.7 mi
5m
IL 102
3.6 mi
5m
West Peotone Road
3 mi
4m
South Chicago Road
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 103.5 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Arcola, IL.
1
Start on West Galena Boulevard
0.4 mi·52 sec·West Galena Boulevard
2
Turn left onto IL 25
458 ft·13 sec·North Broadway
3
Turn right onto East New York Street
1.1 mi·1 min·East New York Street
4
Turn slight right
175 ft·8 sec
5
Turn slight right onto North Ohio Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·North Ohio Street
6
Turn left onto East Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Galena Boulevard
7
Continue on Hill Avenue
2.5 mi·4 min·Hill Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Turn straight onto US 30
7.4 mi·11 min·Lincoln Highway
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto US 30
1.0 mi·1 min·143rd Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto US 30; IL 59
1.2 mi·2 min·North Division Street
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto US 30
2.2 mi·4 min·North Joliet Road
Use the left lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
13
Merge onto I 55
16 mi·18 min·I 55
Use the right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward North River Road
15
Turn left onto CH 44
0.3 mi·31 sec·County Highway 44
16
Continue on CH 44
1.4 mi·1 min·North River Road
17
Continue on CH 44
2.3 mi·3 min·New River Road
18
At end of road, turn right onto IL 53
0.5 mi·48 sec·South Chicago Road
19
Turn left onto CH 25
3.0 mi·4 min·West Peotone Road
20
Turn right onto CH 7
2.0 mi·2 min·South Chicago Road
21
Continue on Old Chicago Road
3.7 mi·5 min·Old Chicago Road
22
At end of road, turn left onto IL 102
3.6 mi·5 min·IL 102
23
Turn right onto CH 20
0.7 mi·1 min·Warner Bridge Rd North 7000W Road
24
Turn left onto IL 113
7.8 mi·13 min·County Road North 303 West
25
Continue on IL 113
1.5 mi·2 min·North Wall Street
26
Continue on South Wall Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Wall Street
27
Continue on West Water Street
0.4 mi·43 sec·West Water Street
28
Continue on US 45; US 52
0.5 mi·49 sec·South East Avenue
29
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
1.8 mi·2 min·South Schuyler Avenue
30
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward I-57 South: Champaign
31
Merge onto I 57
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·I 57
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Exit 203Toward IL 133: Arcola, Paris
33
Turn right onto IL 133
0.7 mi·1 min·East Springfield Road
34
Turn right onto South Locust Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South Locust Street
35
Arrive at destination
North Locust Street
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 30-minute drive, departing in the morning will allow you to arrive with ample time to explore Arcola. With the longest stretch being over 100 miles, plan for one fuel and rest stop to break up the journey. The estimated fuel cost of $26 is a good budget to keep in mind. Since this is a relatively short, one-day trip, you have flexibility with your departure time. Be aware that you'll be on I-57 for a substantial portion, so pay attention to interstate traffic patterns as you approach your destination.
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 84.1 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.5 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 37 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.1 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arcola, 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 168.1 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 57 for about 103.5 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 166.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.8 mi into trip|~19m in|US 30 / 143rd Street
Turn left onto US 30 / 143rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
12.8 mi into trip|~21m in|US 30; IL 59 / North Division Street
Turn right onto US 30; IL 59 / North Division Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
16.2 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Navigation decision point
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
5
16.5 mi into trip|~29m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
166.8 mi into trip|~3h 27m in
Take the exit toward IL 133: Arcola, Paris
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 203
Toward IL 133: Arcola, Paris
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.28 one way
$52.56 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.85
$57.71
premium
$4.89
$32.35
$64.70
diesel
$5.61
$37.11
$74.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.4
0
$17.65
$8.07
Efficient EV
42
0
$14.71
$6.72
EV Truck/SUV
67.2
0
$23.53
$10.76
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 18, 2026
Origin
Aurora, IL
Late night
in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
WNW 20 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:50AM CDT until April 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:48AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Arcola, IL
Late night
in Arcola on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
26 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 30m 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?
This drive leans heavily towards highway travel, with 73% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 103.5 miles on I-57, offering a consistent pace. The character is predominantly that of a highway-focused drive, designed for efficiency. While the majority of your time will be spent on these faster roads, the inclusion of County Road North 303 West introduces a brief change of pace, moving away from the interstate system before you reach your destination.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.5 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 55. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in near US 30 / 143rd Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 168.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 11.8 miles (US 30 / 143rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (US 30; IL 59 / North Division Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
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
Arcola is a city in the Central Illinois region of Illinois with about 2,900 residents in 2020. Visitors will get a sense of small-town Midwest as they walk or drive down the streets of Arcola. The countryside surrounding the city houses the largest Amish population in Illinois with many small shops operated by Amish craftsmen in and around the area.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 168.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.5 miles on I 57. 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Arcola, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 11.8 miles (US 30 / 143rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (US 30; IL 59 / North Division Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Arcola, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
