Aurora, IL to Bennington, IL is 265.4 miles and takes about 5h 51m via I 57 and I 55, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest and the state of Illinois, keeping things straightforward. With a significant portion on major interstates, you'll cover ground efficiently. The drive mostly utilizes surface roads for the remainder, offering a more local feel. Consider this trip if you're looking for a direct path with minimal complexity.
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
132.7 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
117.7 mi
2h 6m
I 55
15.8 mi
18m
County Road 1150
14.3 mi
19m
North 1250th Street
13.3 mi
19m
South Van Buren Street
11 mi
15m
Route 130
10 mi
14m
County Road North 303 West
7.8 mi
13m
Lincoln Highway
7.4 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 117.7 mi, about 2h 6m
Traffic on I-57
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 2 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~865 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~101 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 5 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Bennington, 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
118 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 57
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 190AToward IL 16 East: Charleston
33
Turn straight onto IL 16
0.7 mi·1 min·Charleston Avenue East
34
Continue on IL 16
6.0 mi·8 min·Illinois Route 16
35
Continue on IL 16
1.8 mi·2 min·West Lincoln Avenue
36
Turn right onto IL 130
1.6 mi·2 min·18th Street
37
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·Illinois Route 130
38
Continue on IL 130
10.0 mi·14 min·Route 130
39
Continue on IL 130
2.0 mi·2 min·County Road 1825 East
40
Continue on IL 130
0.8 mi·1 min·County Road 1775 E
41
Continue on IL 130
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Haughton Highway
42
Continue on IL 130
1.3 mi·1 min·1700E
43
Continue on IL 130
4.0 mi·5 min·North Haughton Highway
44
Continue on IL 130
2.1 mi·3 min·County Road 1700E
45
Continue on IL 130
13 mi·19 min·North 1250th Street
46
Turn left onto IL 130
11 mi·15 min·South Van Buren Street
47
Continue on IL 130
6.7 mi·9 min·County Road 1100 East
48
Continue on IL 130
2.5 mi·4 min·North West Street
49
Continue on IL 130
14 mi·19 min·County Road 1150
Use the straight lane.
50
Turn right onto County Road 1850 N
3.8 mi·9 min·County Road 1850 N
51
Turn right onto 125E
0.5 mi·1 min·125E
52
Turn left onto 1900N
0.3 mi·1 min·1900N
53
Turn left onto 095E
0.1 mi·34 sec·095E
54
Turn left onto 100E
105 ft·4 sec·100E
55
Arrive at destination
100E
Trip Plan
For this 5h 51m drive, leaving Aurora, IL in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $40, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. The longest stretch on I 57 is over 117 miles, so plan your last fuel stop before you begin that segment if you prefer not to refuel on the interstate. Pay attention as you transition from highways to County Road 1150, as road conditions and speed limits will change.
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 132.7 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.7 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 58 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.7 miles or 2h 51m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bennington, 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 265.4 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 117.7 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 181 — 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.
5
181 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward IL 16 East: Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 190A
Toward IL 16 East: Charleston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.19 one way
$78.39 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.27
$86.54
premium
$4.72
$49.28
$98.55
diesel
$4.80
$50.11
$100.23
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: 92.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.6
0
$27.87
$12.74
Efficient EV
66.4
0
$23.22
$10.62
EV Truck/SUV
106.2
1
$37.16
$16.99
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Aurora, IL
Morning
in Aurora on Sunday
Local time
10:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Smoke
SSW 0 to 10 mph45% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:29PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:29PM CDT until July 19 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Destination
Bennington, IL
Morning
in Bennington on Sunday
Local time
10:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 0 to 6 mph63% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:29PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:29PM CDT until July 19 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
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
5h 51m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 58% of this 265.4-mile drive on highways like I 57 and I 55. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 117.7 miles along I 57. After that, expect to transition to County Road 1150 and other surface roads for the remainder of your trip. This means you'll experience a mix of faster interstate cruising and slower, potentially more scenic, local road travel.
Only 58% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
55 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 26 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 265.4 miles you will encounter 26 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 51m. Total distance: 265.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 117.7 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Bennington, 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. There are 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bennington, IL before the return drive.
