Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Aurora, IL to Lake Summerset, IL

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 1m

Distance

95.7 mi

154 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 53m ★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 57m

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

Best Time
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city on tripoints of DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties in Illinois, United States

Aurora, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lake Summerset, IL, IL

Lake Summerset, IL

Sean Ewing

Trip Overview

The drive from Aurora, IL to Lake Summerset, IL covers 95.7 miles and takes about 2h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, I 39, U.S. Grant Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.6 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.84 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

47.8 miles from Aurora, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 37.6 mi 40m
I 39 21.1 mi 22m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway 9.9 mi 11m
Trask Bridge Road 9 mi 12m
Center Road 2.9 mi 4m
North Meridian Road 2.7 mi 4m
Freeport Road 2.5 mi 3m
North Lake Street 2.2 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway — 37.6 mi, about 40m

Traffic on I-39

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~1,260 veh/hr typical · worst 1,643

Quietest

1 AM

~139 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

9.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 86 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 Lake Summerset, IL.

1

Start on West Galena Boulevard

0.1 mi · 15 sec · West Galena Boulevard
2

Turn left onto IL 31

2.2 mi · 4 min · North Lake Street
Use the left lane.
3

Continue on South Lincolnway Street

0.4 mi · 39 sec · South Lincolnway Street
4

Take the ramp

387 ft · 9 sec
Toward I 88 West Toll, IL 56 West Toll: Chicago, Dekalb-Iowa Use the left lane.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 56

0.6 mi · 1 min · IL 56
Toward I 88 West, IL 56 West: DeKalb-Iowa Use the straight lane.
6

Merge onto I 88; IL 56; IL 110

2.8 mi · 3 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110

35 mi · 37 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford
9

Merge onto I 39; US 51

21 mi · 22 min · I 39; US 51
10

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 2 min
Toward US 20 West: Freeport, Rockford
11

Merge onto US 20

9.9 mi · 11 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
13

Turn right

116 ft · 3 sec
14

Turn right onto CH 24

1.7 mi · 3 min · South Meridian Road
15

Enter roundabout onto North Meridian Road

152 ft · 8 sec · North Meridian Road
16

Continue on North Meridian Road

2.7 mi · 4 min · North Meridian Road
17

Turn left onto IL 70

9.0 mi · 12 min · Trask Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
18

Continue on IL 70

2.9 mi · 4 min · Center Road
19

Turn left onto IL 75

2.5 mi · 3 min · Freeport Road
20

Turn right onto Best Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · Best Road
21

Turn left onto Lake Summerset Road

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Lake Summerset Road
22

Turn right onto Pier Drive

1.0 mi · 3 min · Pier Drive
23

Arrive at destination

Pier Drive

Trip Plan

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 47.8 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.6 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 21 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 47.8 miles or 55m 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 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Summerset, 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 95.7 miles and 2h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Aurora, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 37.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

village in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kirkland, IL

48 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

Geneva, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Malta, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.8 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · around the midpoint

Grubsteakers Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Rochelle, Illinois

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset · 1h 1m in / 1h 1m to go 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18155623430

Oak Street Restaurant And Bar

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

North Aurora, Illinois

2.7 mi

Acres Bistro

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rochelle, Illinois

2.9 mi

Best coffee break · early in the drive

The Junction Eating Place

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

DeKalb, Illinois

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch · 35min in 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+18157585441

Visit website

Grubsteakers Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18155623430

Oak Street Restaurant And Bar

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

North Aurora, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–1 pm

+16303017202

Visit website

Acres Bistro

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18157628212

Luna

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18155612727

Visit website

The Fit Hub Rochelle

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18152184988

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Moderately

Oswego, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+16305513219

Visit website

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour Moderately

Oswego, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16305513912

Visit website

Lucky Panda Chinese Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Aurora, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16308989360

Visit website

The Junction Eating Place

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

DeKalb, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+18157585441

Visit website

Flight Deck A Global Inspired Pub

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18155613664

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 40.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | IL 31 / North Lake Street

Turn left onto IL 31 / North Lake Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
2.6 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 88 West Toll, IL 56 West Toll: Chicago, Dekalb-Iowa

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 88 West Toll, IL 56 West Toll: Chicago...
8
2.7 mi into trip | ~5m in | IL 56

Keep slight left at fork onto IL 56 toward I 88 West, IL 56 West: DeKalb-Iowa

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward I 88 West, IL 56 West: DeKalb-Iowa
8
6.1 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
5
40.9 mi into trip | ~46m in

Take the exit toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 39 North, US 51 North: Rockford

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.84 one way

$29.67 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $16.27 $32.54
premium $4.93 $18.57 $37.13
diesel $5.60 $21.10 $42.19

Estimated Tolls: $2.26

Reagan Memorial Tollway (37.6 mi) $2.26

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.7 0 $10.05 $4.59
Efficient EV 23.9 0 $8.37 $3.83
EV Truck/SUV 38.3 0 $13.40 $6.12

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 Aug 27, 2026

Origin

Aurora, IL

Night in Aurora on Friday

Local time

9:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Mostly Clear

NW 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 26 at 8:32PM CDT until August 29 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 26 at 8:32PM CDT until August 31 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Destination

Lake Summerset, IL

Night in Lake Summerset on Friday

Local time

9:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Mostly Clear

NW 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 26 at 8:32PM CDT until August 29 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued August 26 at 8:32PM CDT until August 31 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL

57°F

Kirkland, IL

48 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

2h 1m 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?

95.7 mi in 2h 1m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.6 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 31 / North Lake Street.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 95.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 31 / North Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (IL 56): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

909 ft 676 ft

Total Climb

463 ft

Total Descent

281 ft

Highest Point

909 ft

~34.2 mi in

Elevation Range

234 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Aurora, IL to Lake Summerset, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rockford along the way.

Rockford

62.6 mi in | ~1h 10m

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 Lake Summerset, IL

Full guide →

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 1m. Total distance: 95.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 37.6 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.26 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Lake Summerset, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 31 / North Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (IL 56): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lake Summerset, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Lake Summerset, IL

Springfield, IL 220.9 mi · 4h 15m Berwyn, IL 109.7 mi · 2h 22m Evanston, IL 106.1 mi · 2h 22m Waukegan, IL 95.1 mi · 2h 24m

More from Aurora, IL

Harrisburg, IL 332 mi · 6h 41m Crestwood, IL 331 mi · 6h 32m Eldorado, IL 329 mi · 6h 41m De Soto, IL 328 mi · 6h 29m Carterville, IL 324.5 mi · 6h 20m Cambria, IL 323.5 mi · 6h 22m

More trips to Lake Summerset, IL

Champaign, IL 208.5 mi Berwyn, IL 109.8 mi
Escape planner: Aurora, IL Scenic drives in IL

Explore more options from Aurora, IL or browse trips ending in Lake Summerset, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.