If you are planning a trip from Aurora to Atwood, expect a 144-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 31 minutes. This route is best suited for a one-day excursion, as the distance is manageable for a single stint behind the wheel. You should budget approximately $22 for fuel to cover the trip across the Illinois landscape. The drive relies heavily on local roads like IL 47 and North 2700 East Road rather than major interstates, providing a direct transition between these two Midwest communities. It is a straightforward, practical route that offers a change of pace from standard highway travel.
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
72 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North 2700 East Road
28.7 mi
44m
IL 47
23.7 mi
27m
North 390 East Road
10.8 mi
15m
County Road 6
9.2 mi
12m
County Road 400 East
7.7 mi
10m
South Lake Street
5.9 mi
9m
County Road 300 E
4.5 mi
6m
County Road 350 East
4.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
North 2700 East Road
— 28.7 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Atwood, 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
24 mi·27 min·IL 47
14
Turn left onto IL 47
1.3 mi·2 min·North Union Street
15
Continue on IL 47
22 mi·35 min·North 2700 East Road
16
Continue on IL 47
1.2 mi·2 min·North Center Street
17
Continue on IL 47
6.7 mi·9 min·North 2700 East Road
18
Continue on IL 47
0.7 mi·1 min·North 2750 East Road
19
Continue on IL 47
1.1 mi·1 min·North 2775 East Road
20
Continue on IL 47
0.4 mi·36 sec·North 2790 East Road
21
Continue on IL 47
0.4 mi·32 sec·North 385 East Road
22
Continue on IL 47
11 mi·15 min·North 390 East Road
23
Turn left onto IL 9; IL 47; IL 54
0.5 mi·1 min·West 1st Street
24
Turn right onto IL 47
0.4 mi·47 sec·South Sangamon Avenue
25
Continue on IL 47
383 ft·7 sec·North 450E Road
26
Continue on IL 47
3.5 mi·4 min·North 450 East Road
27
Continue on IL 47
2.1 mi·2 min·County Road 450 East
28
Continue on IL 47
7.5 mi·10 min·County Road 400 East
29
Continue on IL 47
4.5 mi·6 min·County Road 350 East
30
Continue on IL 47
0.2 mi·28 sec·County Road 400 East
31
Continue on IL 47
0.5 mi·1 min·North Lombard Street
32
At end of road, turn right onto US 150; IL 47
0.4 mi·52 sec·East Oak Street
33
Turn left onto IL 47
0.9 mi·1 min·South Division Street
34
Continue on IL 47
4.5 mi·6 min·County Road 300 E
35
Turn right onto IL 10
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road 1600 N
36
Turn left onto CR 6
0.1 mi·18 sec·Main Street
37
Continue on CR 6
0.1 mi·14 sec·County Road 200 East
38
Continue on CR 6
1.6 mi·2 min·Main Street
39
Continue on CR 6
9.2 mi·12 min·County Road 6
40
Turn right onto CR 17
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road 17
41
Continue on CR 17
1.0 mi·1 min·Johnson Street
42
Continue on CR 17
0.4 mi·44 sec·County Line Street
43
Continue on CR 17
4.0 mi·7 min·County Road 00 East
44
Continue on County Road 50 East
3.4 mi·5 min·County Road 50 East
45
Continue on County Highway 14
1.6 mi·2 min·County Highway 14
46
Continue on North County Road 50 East
0.4 mi·40 sec·North County Road 50 East
47
Continue on North Main Street
482 ft·9 sec·North Main Street
48
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 31-minute drive, consider leaving early to handle the turn-heavy local roads during daylight hours. Since there is only one planned stop, you have plenty of flexibility to decide where to pause for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can lead to unpredictable consumption compared to steady highway driving. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert for transitions between North 2700 East Road, IL 47, and North 390 East Road, as the frequent turns require steady navigation. Since the trip is relatively short, you can easily complete it in one day without needing to worry about overnight logistics.
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 72 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.7 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 32 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72 miles or 1h 42m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atwood, 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 144 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 North 2700 East Road for about 28.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 18 — 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.
4
7.2 mi into trip|~12m in|Orchard Road
Turn left onto Orchard Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
8.8 mi into trip|~14m in|Minkler Road
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.51 one way
$45.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.72
$49.44
premium
$4.89
$27.71
$55.42
diesel
$5.61
$31.79
$63.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.2
0
$15.12
$6.91
Efficient EV
36
0
$12.60
$5.76
EV Truck/SUV
57.6
0
$20.16
$9.22
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Aurora, IL
Late night
in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Atwood, IL
Late night
in Atwood on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 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
3 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 31m 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?
This trip is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature, offering a significantly different experience than a standard interstate cruise. With only 18% of the route on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating secondary roads that require more driver attention. Expect to settle into a rhythm on the longest stretch of 28.7 miles along North 2700 East Road. Because the path relies on local infrastructure, the road personality is technical rather than monotonous. You will find that the character of the drive shifts as you move away from the Aurora area and transition into the quieter segments of central Illinois.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
48 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.7 mi on North 2700 East Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 3h 31m drive. You will face about 15 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 7.2 miles (Orchard Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 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 28.7 miles on North 2700 East Road. 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 0.1 miles (IL 31 / South Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.2 miles (Orchard Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (Minkler Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Atwood, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
