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Trip from Aurora, IL to Bedford, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 59m

Distance

249.2 mi

401 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 46m ★
6 AM
4h 59m
8 AM
5h 26m
10 AM
5h 9m
12 PM
5h 6m
3 PM
5h 10m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city on tripoints of DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties in Illinois, United States

Aurora, IL

Wikimedia Commons

county in Illinois, United States

Bedford, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 249.2-mile trip from Aurora, IL to Bedford, IL is a straightforward drive, estimated to take about 4 hours and 59 minutes. It's definitely manageable as a single-day excursion, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 88% of the journey on interstates, making it an efficient way to cover ground. Expect a fuel cost of around $39 for this drive. Given that both Aurora and Bedford are in the Midwest region of Illinois, this trip is a smooth transition within familiar territory.

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

124.6 miles from Aurora, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 127.2 mi 2h 16m
I 72 51.6 mi 55m
IL 47 22.1 mi 25m
IL 100 9.6 mi 14m
Illinois Route 100 7.8 mi 11m
South Lake Street 5.9 mi 9m
Minkler Road 4.3 mi 6m
Ashley Road 3.8 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 127.2 mi, about 2h 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Bedford, 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, Springfield Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 72; US 36

52 mi · 55 min · I 72; US 36
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
18

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Toward IL 100: Bluffs, Detroit
19

Turn left

88 ft · 2 sec
20

Turn left onto IL 100

4.0 mi · 6 min · IL 100
21

At end of road, turn right onto IL 100; IL 106

5.6 mi · 8 min · IL 100; IL 106
22

Turn left onto IL 100

7.8 mi · 11 min · Illinois Route 100
23

Turn left onto 865 North

1.5 mi · 5 min · 865 North
24

Continue on 874 North

0.8 mi · 3 min · 874 North
25

Continue on Road 4000 East

1.0 mi · 3 min · Road 4000 East
26

Continue on Road 886 North

0.4 mi · 1 min · Road 886 North
27

Arrive at destination

Bedford Road

Trip Plan

With a duration of under five hours, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. You can easily start in the morning and arrive by midday, or depart later and reach your destination in the early evening. Given the longest stretch without exits is 127.2 miles on I 55, be sure to plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. A good strategy is to take advantage of services at the beginning or end of the 127.2-mile segment on I 55.

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 124.6 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.2 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 55 miles or 1h 12m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 124.6 miles or 2h 27m 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 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, 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 249.2 miles and 4h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 127.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IL

125 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Joliet, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bloomington, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 124.6 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 127.2 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 176.2 — 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

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
6
176.2 mi into trip | ~3h 23m in | I 72; US 36

Keep slight right at fork onto I 72; US 36 toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$38.96 one way

$77.92 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 87 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $42.78 $85.55
premium $4.89 $47.96 $95.91
diesel $5.61 $55.02 $110.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 87.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 74.8 0 $26.17 $11.96
Efficient EV 62.3 0 $21.80 $9.97
EV Truck/SUV 99.7 1 $34.89 $15.95

Gas CO2

87 kg

EV CO2

29 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 16, 2026

Origin

Aurora, IL

Late night in Aurora on Tuesday

Local time

3:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

WNW 10 to 15 mph 36% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:33PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:29PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Destination

Bedford, IL

Late night in Bedford on Tuesday

Local time

3:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

68°F

Bloomington, IL

125 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

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

4h 59m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 249.2-mile journey, as 88% of the route utilizes major interstates. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I 55, including a substantial stretch of 127.2 miles without needing to exit. The primary roads guiding you are I 55, I 72, and IL 47. This profile suggests a consistent pace, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous detours but a predictable and efficient travel time.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 127.2 mi on I 55.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 72. 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 Effort 5/10

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 249.2 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 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

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 Bedford, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Detroit.

Springfield

111.4 mi in | ~2h 12m | via I 55

Detroit

227.8 mi in | ~4h 18m

About the Cities

Starting in Aurora, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1835

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

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 59m. Total distance: 249.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 127.2 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.

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 12.2 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Bedford, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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