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Trip from Aurora, IL to Bradley, 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

1h 32m

Distance

63.5 mi

102 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 25m ★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 28m

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

city on tripoints of DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties in Illinois, United States

Aurora, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Bradley, IL, IL

Bradley, IL

RDNE Stock project

Trip Overview

Aurora, IL to Bradley, IL is 63.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 32 minutes via I 55 and South La Grange Road, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Illinois, traversing familiar Midwest landscapes. You'll be spending a good portion of your time on surface roads, so expect a more connected-to-the-ground feel than a pure interstate cruise. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for a quick hop between towns without needing an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

31.8 miles from Aurora, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 15.8 mi 18m
South La Grange Road 11.5 mi 16m
West Wilmington Road 9 mi 12m
Lincoln Highway 7.4 mi 11m
West Peotone Road 4 mi 5m
Hill Avenue 2.5 mi 4m
New River Road 2.3 mi 3m
North Joliet Road 2.2 mi 4m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 15.8 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Bradley, 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

4.0 mi · 5 min · West Peotone Road
20

Continue on CH 25

9.0 mi · 12 min · West Wilmington Road
21

Turn right onto US 45; US 52

11 mi · 16 min · South La Grange Road
22

Continue on US 45; US 52

0.2 mi · 23 sec · East Marsile Street
23

Continue on US 45; US 52

0.5 mi · 54 sec · South Main Street
24

Continue on US 45; US 52

0.3 mi · 34 sec · North Kennedy Drive
25

Turn left onto West Broadway Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Broadway Street
26

Arrive at destination

East Broadway Street

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of 1 hour 32 minutes, you have the flexibility to leave whenever works best. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps near the point where you exit I 55. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $10 for the trip. The longest continuous stretch before potentially needing to refuel or rest is 15.8 miles on I 55, so factor that into your planning if you like to keep your tank topped up.

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 31.8 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.8 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 14 miles or 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 31.8 miles or 47m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bradley, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Aurora, IL

This is one driving day of about 63.5 miles and 1h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Aurora, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 15.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

village in Troy Township, Will County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Shorewood, IL

32 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

Shorewood, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elwood, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.8 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 16.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | IL 25 / North Broadway

Turn left onto IL 25 / North Broadway

Navigation decision point

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.93 one way

$19.86 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.90 $21.80
premium $4.89 $12.22 $24.44
diesel $5.61 $14.02 $28.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.1 0 $6.67 $3.05
Efficient EV 15.9 0 $5.56 $2.54
EV Truck/SUV 25.4 0 $8.89 $4.06

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 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

7:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bradley, IL

Morning in Bradley on Tuesday

Local time

7:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°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

1 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

1h 32m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive features a 25% highway share, meaning you'll transition from interstate to local roads. The longest stretch on I 55 covers 15.8 miles before you'll be navigating South La Grange Road and West Wilmington Road. Expect more frequent intersections and traffic lights once you leave the interstate. The profile is mostly surface roads, so be prepared for typical town and suburban driving.

Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.8 mi on I 55.

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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near IL 25 / North Broadway.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 63.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.4 miles (IL 25 / North Broadway): Navigation decision point; 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.

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

Arriving in Bradley, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1891

Bradley is a village in Kankakee County, in the Chicagoland region of 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 1h 32m. Total distance: 63.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 15.8 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Bradley, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (IL 25 / North Broadway): Navigation decision point; 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bradley, IL before heading back.

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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