Aurora, IL to Hickory Point, IL is 112.5 miles and takes about 2h 32m via I 39 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip entirely within Illinois, connecting two points in the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes interstate highways, making it a quick and efficient drive. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, it's ideal for a same-day excursion. You'll find it to be a practical option for getting between these two locations without much fuss.
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
56.2 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 39
36.4 mi
39m
IL 71
30 mi
43m
I 80
14.5 mi
15m
County Road 1400 North
6.1 mi
10m
South Lake Street
5.9 mi
9m
State Route 116
5.5 mi
8m
County Road 1800 North
5.5 mi
9m
East Mount Vernon Street
2.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 36.4 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Hickory Point, 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
15 mi·15 min·I 80
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 79AToward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
9
Merge onto I 39; US 51
36 mi·39 min·I 39; US 51
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward IL 116: Metamora, Flanagan
11
Turn right onto IL 116
5.5 mi·9 min·County Road 1800 North
12
Turn left onto IL 116; IL 117
1.3 mi·2 min·County Road 2100 E
13
Turn straight onto IL 116; IL 117
3.3 mi·5 min·County Road 1400 North
14
Continue on IL 116; IL 117
0.9 mi·1 min·East Husseman Street
15
Continue on IL 116; IL 117
1.0 mi·1 min·West Front Street
16
Continue on IL 116; IL 117
2.8 mi·4 min·County Road 1400 North
17
Continue on IL 116
3.9 mi·5 min·State Route 116
18
Continue on IL 116
2.2 mi·4 min·East Mount Vernon Street
19
Continue on IL 116
1.6 mi·2 min·State Route 116
20
Arrive at destination
IL 116
Trip Plan
Given the 2.5-hour drive time, leaving Aurora, IL in the morning or early afternoon will comfortably get you to Hickory Point, IL before evening. You'll only need one stop for the entire 112.5 miles, so consider making it about halfway through your journey on I 39. The fuel cost is estimated at $18, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on traffic or personal schedule, with minimal impact on your arrival.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 56.2 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.4 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 25 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.2 miles or 1h 17m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hickory Point, 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 112.5 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 39 for about 36.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 89.7 — 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
6
52.8 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 79A
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomin...
5
89.7 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward IL 116: Metamora, Flanagan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 116: Metamora, Flanagan
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.59 one way
$35.18 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.31
$38.62
premium
$4.89
$21.65
$43.30
diesel
$5.61
$24.84
$49.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.8
0
$11.81
$5.40
Efficient EV
28.1
0
$9.84
$4.50
EV Truck/SUV
45
0
$15.75
$7.20
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% 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
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hickory Point, IL
Late night
in Hickory Point on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Serena, IL
56 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
15 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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 78% of the 112.5 miles on interstates. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 36.4 miles on I 39, offering a good amount of uninterrupted cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur after the highway sections conclude. Expect a consistent flow of traffic typical of major interstate corridors.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.4 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 32m drive. You will face about 10 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.
Between Aurora, IL and Hickory Point, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island, Bloomington and Flanagan.
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 36.4 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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.
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 Hickory Point, IL before heading back.
