This 105.1-mile drive from Aurora, Illinois to Atkinson, Illinois is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 11 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 92% of the journey on major roads like I-80 and IL-71. You can expect a fuel cost of around $16 for this relatively short distance. Given its brevity and the predominantly highway nature, this trip is ideal for a quick getaway or a straightforward commute between two points within the Midwest. There are no designated stops included in this plan, suggesting a direct approach to your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.5 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
65.8 mi
1h 10m
IL 71
30 mi
43m
South Lake Street
5.9 mi
9m
US 34
1.2 mi
2m
South State Street
0.8 mi
2m
Orchard Road
0.7 mi
1m
West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
East Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 65.8 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Atkinson, 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
Turn right onto IL 71
30 mi·43 min·IL 71
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
7
Merge onto I 80
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward Atkinson, Galva
9
Turn right onto South State Street
0.8 mi·2 min·South State Street
10
Turn right onto East Main Street
56 ft·2 sec·East Main Street
11
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 11-minute drive, you have considerable flexibility. Leaving Aurora, IL in the morning will allow you to reach Atkinson, IL with plenty of daylight remaining. With no specific stops planned and a manageable 105.1 miles, you can easily complete this trip in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is $16, it's always wise to refuel before embarking on longer stretches, especially the 65.8-mile segment on I-80. Consider an early departure to maximize your time at your destination.
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 52.5 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.8 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 23 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.5 miles or 1h 13m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atkinson, 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 105.1 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Aurora, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 65.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 104 — 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
7.9 mi into trip|~13m in|IL 71
Turn right onto IL 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
37.9 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
5
38.2 mi into trip|~57m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
104 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Take the exit toward Atkinson, Galva
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Atkinson, Galva
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.43 one way
$32.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.04
$36.08
premium
$4.89
$20.23
$40.45
diesel
$5.61
$23.20
$46.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.5
0
$11.04
$5.04
Efficient EV
26.3
0
$9.20
$4.20
EV Truck/SUV
42
0
$14.71
$6.73
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Aurora, IL
Morning
in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
9:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Atkinson, IL
Morning
in Atkinson on Tuesday
Local time
9:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Serena, IL
53 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
1 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
2h 11m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this 105.1-mile journey. With 92% of the route utilizing major roadways, you'll spend most of your time on I-80 and IL-71. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 65.8 miles, allowing for consistent travel speeds. This profile suggests a drive characterized by efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. The transition from South Lake Street to the interstate system marks the beginning of this efficient, highway-centric path.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and IL 71. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 31 / South Lake Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 11m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 7.9 miles (IL 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles: 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 Aurora, IL to Atkinson, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Island 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 65.8 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (IL 31 / South Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (IL 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Atkinson, IL before heading back.
