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Trip from Aurora, IL to Lake of the Woods, IL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 50m

Distance

116.6 mi

188 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 40m ★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 44m

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

census designated place in Illinois, United States

Lake of the Woods, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Aurora, IL to Lake of the Woods, IL is 116.6 miles and takes about 2h 50m via North 2700 East Road, IL 47, and North 390 East Road, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a local driving experience with numerous turns rather than a straight shot on major highways. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is ideal for a spontaneous getaway or a leisurely weekend drive.

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

58.3 miles from Aurora, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m 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 400 East 7.7 mi 10m
South Lake Street 5.9 mi 9m
County Road 350 East 4.5 mi 6m
Minkler Road 4.3 mi 6m
Ashley Road 3.8 mi 5m
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 Lake of the Woods, 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 left onto US 150

0.5 mi · 55 sec · East Oak Street
33

Turn left onto South Lake of the Woods Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · South Lake of the Woods Road
34

Turn right

301 ft · 23 sec
35

Turn left

138 ft · 10 sec
36

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a one-day trip covering 116.6 miles, you have flexibility with your departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to allow ample time for the drive and any spontaneous pauses. With only one stop suggested, consider planning your break around the halfway point to refuel and stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as stretches between services might be longer on these local roads. The route's turn-heavy nature means paying close attention to navigation is key, so ensure your GPS is set up before you depart.

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 58.3 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 1h 20m 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 26 miles or 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 58.3 miles or 1h 20m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake of the Woods, 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 116.6 miles and 2h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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.

city in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Morris, IL

58 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

Central, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Diamond, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58.3 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 0.1 and 114.3 — 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.
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.
5
114.3 mi into trip | ~2h 45m in | US 150 / East Oak Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 150 / East Oak Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.23 one way

$36.46 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $20.01 $40.03
premium $4.89 $22.44 $44.88
diesel $5.61 $25.74 $51.49

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: 40.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35 0 $12.24 $5.60
Efficient EV 29.2 0 $10.20 $4.66
EV Truck/SUV 46.6 0 $16.32 $7.46

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 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 16, 2026

Origin

Aurora, IL

Late night in Aurora on Sunday

Local time

5:35 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

Lake of the Woods, IL

Late night in Lake of the Woods on Sunday

Local time

5:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°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

18 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 50m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll navigate a series of roads with frequent directional changes. Only 21% of the journey is on highways, so be prepared for a more intimate experience with local thoroughfares. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28.7 miles on North 2700 East Road, offering a brief period of steady driving before more turns resume. The route feels like a connected series of backroads and county highways rather than a high-speed transit.

Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
36 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?

4/10

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 Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 50m drive. You will face about 14 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 12.2 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point.

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 2h 50m. Total distance: 116.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (21%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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 12.2 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lake of the Woods, 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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