Trip from Aurora, IL to Louisville, IL

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

Drive Time

4h 53m

Distance

235.7 mi

379 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 40m ★

6 AM

4h 54m

8 AM

5h 21m

10 AM

5h 3m

12 PM

5h 1m

3 PM

5h 5m

5 PM

5h 20m

8 PM

4h 46m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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

Louisville, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Aurora, IL to Louisville, IL covers 235.7 miles and takes about 4h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 57, I 55, South Banker Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 144.7 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.85 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

117.9 miles from Aurora, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 57	144.7 mi	2h 35m
I 55	15.8 mi	18m
South Banker Street	14.9 mi	22m
County Road 925 East	10 mi	14m
County Road North 303 West	7.8 mi	13m
Lincoln Highway	7.4 mi	11m
Old Chicago Road	3.7 mi	5m
IL 102	3.6 mi	5m

Longest stretch: I 57 — 144.7 mi, about 2h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Louisville, IL.

Start on West Galena Boulevard

0.4 mi · 52 sec · West Galena Boulevard

Turn left onto IL 25

458 ft · 13 sec · North Broadway

Turn right onto East New York Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · East New York Street

Turn slight right

175 ft · 8 sec

Turn slight right onto North Ohio Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · North Ohio Street

Turn left onto East Galena Boulevard

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East Galena Boulevard

Continue on Hill Avenue

2.5 mi · 4 min · Hill Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn straight onto US 30

7.4 mi · 11 min · Lincoln Highway

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto US 30

1.0 mi · 1 min · 143rd Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto US 30; IL 59

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Division Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto US 30

2.2 mi · 4 min · North Joliet Road

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward I 55 South: Bloomington

Merge onto I 55

16 mi · 18 min · I 55

Use the right lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward North River Road

Turn left onto CH 44

0.3 mi · 31 sec · County Highway 44

Continue on CH 44

1.4 mi · 1 min · North River Road

Continue on CH 44

2.3 mi · 3 min · New River Road

At end of road, turn right onto IL 53

0.5 mi · 48 sec · South Chicago Road

Turn left onto CH 25

3.0 mi · 4 min · West Peotone Road

Turn right onto CH 7

2.0 mi · 2 min · South Chicago Road

Continue on Old Chicago Road

3.7 mi · 5 min · Old Chicago Road

At end of road, turn left onto IL 102

3.6 mi · 5 min · IL 102

Turn right onto CH 20

0.7 mi · 1 min · Warner Bridge Rd North 7000W Road

Turn left onto IL 113

7.8 mi · 13 min · County Road North 303 West

Continue on IL 113

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Wall Street

Continue on South Wall Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Wall Street

Continue on West Water Street

0.4 mi · 43 sec · West Water Street

Continue on US 45; US 52

0.5 mi · 49 sec · South East Avenue

Turn right onto US 45; US 52

1.8 mi · 2 min · South Schuyler Avenue

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 57 sec

Toward I-57 South: Champaign

Merge onto I 57

145 mi · 2 hr 35 min · I 57

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Exit 162 Toward US 45: Sigel, Effingham

Turn left onto US 45

1.9 mi · 2 min · US 45

Turn right onto US 40; US 45; IL 33

0.2 mi · 32 sec · East Fayette Avenue

Turn left onto US 45

15 mi · 22 min · South Banker Street

Continue on US 45

10.0 mi · 14 min · County Road 925 East

Turn left onto Chestnut Street

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Chestnut Street

Arrive at destination

Chestnut Street

Trip Plan

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 117.9 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 2h 35m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.7 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 52 miles or 1h 16m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 117.9 miles or 2h 35m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Louisville, 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 235.7 miles and 4h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 144.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Champaign, IL

118 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

Joliet, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rantoul, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 117.9 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 144.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Taste of Jerusalem

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Plainfield, Illinois

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 16.8

Hours: 11 am–7:30 pm

+18157826500

Visit website

Urban Kitchen

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Crest Hill, Illinois

1.8 mi

Rosemary Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Joliet, Illinois

1.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Kafé De Kasa

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Crest Hill, Illinois

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 16.8

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18156303694

Visit website

Ten Drops Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Plainfield, Illinois

2.7 mi

Taste of Jerusalem

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 16.8

Plainfield, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–7:30 pm

+18157826500

Visit website

Urban Kitchen

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 16.8

Crest Hill, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18157826417

Visit website

Rosemary Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 16.8

Joliet, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+18157824094

Visit website

Morning Delight Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 16.8

Crest Hill, IL

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17792349465

Visit website

ET's Downtown Rantoul

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 117.9

Rantoul, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12178930222

Visit website

Crossroads Cantina

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 84.2

Gilman, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+18157075200

Visit website

Asian bowl express

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 117.9

Rantoul, Illinois

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+12172821215

Visit website

Red Wheel Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 117.9

Rantoul, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+12178930471

Visit website

Kafé De Kasa

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 16.8

Crest Hill, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+18156303694

Visit website

Ten Drops Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 16.8

Plainfield, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+16306962137

Visit website

Critical Grind Board Game Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 16.8

Shorewood, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+18156304235

Visit website

Bonny's Bistro

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 16.8

Joliet, Illinois

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+18476271095

Visit website

Kafe De Kasa

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 16.8

Shorewood, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+17792421902

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 134.7

Champaign, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 134.7

Champaign, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 134.7

Champaign, Illinois

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 185.2

Mattoon, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Nissan Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 134.7

Champaign, Illinois

1.8 mi from route

QuikTrip

2.2 mi from route

The Wine Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 33.7

Wilmington, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+18154769009

Visit website

MY Garage Museum & Retail Store

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 202.1

Effingham, Illinois

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+12175404277

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 208 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.

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.

16.2 mi into trip | ~29m in

Take the ramp toward I 55 South: Bloomington

Navigation decision point

Toward I 55 South: Bloomington

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.

208 mi into trip | ~4h 11m in

Take the exit toward US 45: Sigel, Effingham

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

Exit 162 Toward US 45: Sigel, Effingham

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$36.85 one way

$73.70 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 83 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$40.46	$80.92
premium	$4.89	$45.36	$90.72
diesel	$5.61	$52.04	$104.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 82.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	70.7	0	$24.75	$11.31
Efficient EV	58.9	0	$20.62	$9.43
EV Truck/SUV	94.3	1	$33.00	$15.08

Gas CO2

82 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Aurora, IL

Morning in Aurora on Sunday

Local time

9:36 AM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Louisville, IL

Morning in Louisville on Sunday

Local time

9:36 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

2 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

4h 53m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

235.7 mi in 4h 53m, mostly highway — 144.7 mi of that is on I 57.

71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 144.7 mi on I 57.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 55. You will hit about 22 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 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 235.7 miles you will encounter 22 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.

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 Louisville, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Effingham along the way.

Effingham

208 mi in | ~4h 11m

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 Louisville, IL

Full guide →

Top landmarks

• Clay County Jail — prison in Louisville, United States of America
• Clay County Courthouse — historic courthouse in Louisville, Illinois, USA

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 4h 53m. Total distance: 235.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 144.7 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 25 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 Louisville, 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Louisville, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Louisville, IL to Aurora, IL

Plan the drive back the other way.

235.7 mi 4h 54m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

Trip from Aurora, IL to Louisville, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Taste of Jerusalem

Kafé De Kasa

Taste of Jerusalem

Urban Kitchen

Rosemary Cafe

Morning Delight Cafe

ET's Downtown Rantoul

Crossroads Cantina

Asian bowl express

Red Wheel Restaurant

Kafé De Kasa

Ten Drops Coffee

Critical Grind Board Game Cafe

Bonny's Bistro

Kafe De Kasa

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

EV Connect Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Nissan Charging Station

Green Creek Rest Area - Southbound

Service Plaza

Main Line Station Rest Area - Northbound

Illini Prairie Rest Area - Southbound

Illini Prairie Rest Area - Northbound

Green Creek Rest Area - Northbound

Love's Travel Stop

Main Line Station Rest Area - Southbound

Pilot Travel Center

Road Ranger

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Road Ranger

Petro Stopping Centers

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Petro Stopping Centers

Flying J Travel Center

Truckomat Truck Wash - Effingham

TA

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

The Wine Cafe

MY Garage Museum & Retail Store

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Aurora, IL

Louisville, IL

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 53m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Aurora, IL

Arriving in Louisville, IL

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?