Rail Splitter Rest Area - Southbound
0 mi from route
Trip from Aurora, IL to Roodhouse, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 21m
Distance
229.1 mi
369 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 8m
★
6 AM
4h 21m
8 AM
4h 48m
10 AM
4h 31m
12 PM
4h 28m
3 PM
4h 32m
5 PM
4h 47m
8 PM
4h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Roodhouse, IL
Efrem Efre
Trip Overview
Aurora, IL to Roodhouse, IL is 229.1 miles and takes about 4h 21m via I 55 and I 72, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, traversing the Midwest. Expect a straightforward drive with a high percentage of highway miles. It's a good option if you're looking for a direct route between these two points without significant detours. This itinerary is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace.
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
114.6 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 127.2 mi | 2h 16m |
| I 72 | 37.2 mi | 39m |
| IL 47 | 22.1 mi | 25m |
| United States Route 67 | 12.3 mi | 13m |
| South Lake Street | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| Minkler Road | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Ashley Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| 1440 E | 2.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 127.2 mi, about 2h 16m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,843 veh/hr typical · worst 2,285
Quietest
2 AM
~153 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Roodhouse, 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
22 mi
·
25 min
·
IL 47
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
15
Merge onto I 55
62 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
65 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 72; US 36
37 mi
·
39 min
·
I 72; US 36
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward US 67 South: Alton
19
Merge onto US 67
12 mi
·
13 min
·
United States Route 67
20
Continue on US 67
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
1440 E
21
Continue on US 67
0.7 mi
·
52 sec
·
North State Street
22
Turn left onto CR 2
479 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Palm Street
23
Turn right onto Worcester Street
67 ft
·
3 sec
·
Worcester Street
24
Arrive at destination
Worcester Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 21m duration, leaving Aurora, IL in the morning is ideal, aiming to arrive in Roodhouse, IL with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your breaks. You'll encounter a substantial 127.2-mile stretch on I 55, so ensure you have adequate fuel before starting this segment. Plan to refuel again before the final approach, as services might be more spaced out on the latter part of the drive on IL 47.
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 114.6 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.2 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 50 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.6 miles or 2h 16m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roodhouse, 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 229.1 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 55 for about 127.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
115 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 114.6 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 127.2 miles.
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.
Rail Splitter Rest Area - Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Dixie Trucker's Home
0.1 mi from route
Funks Grove Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Limestone Rest Area (Southbound)
0.1 mi from route
Limestone Rest Area (Northbound)
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.5 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.6 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.6 mi from route
Road Ranger
2.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 176.2 — 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
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
6
48.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
8
111.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
|
I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
6
176.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m in
|
I 72; US 36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 72; US 36 toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.83 one way
$67.67 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
80 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $37.35 | $74.70 |
| premium | $4.72 | $42.54 | $85.07 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $43.26 | $86.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.7 | 0 | $24.06 | $11.00 |
| Efficient EV | 57.3 | 0 | $20.05 | $9.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.6 | 1 | $32.07 | $14.66 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Origin
Aurora, IL
Late night in Aurora on Monday
Local time
4:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WNW 10 to 15 mph
72% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 12:23PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
Destination
Roodhouse, IL
Late night in Roodhouse on Monday
Local time
4:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
W 10 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 12:23PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:43AM CDT until July 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
85°F
Bloomington, IL
115 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
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 21m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 173.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
With 87% of this route on highways, you'll spend most of your time on interstates. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 127.2 miles on I 55. You'll notice the highway segment gives way to surface roads as you approach your destination. This transition typically involves more frequent exits and potentially slower speeds as you enter more populated areas or smaller towns.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 127.2 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 72. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 31 / South Lake 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 229.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (IL 31 / South Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
784 ft
506 ft
Total Climb
418 ft
Total Descent
439 ft
Highest Point
784 ft
~98.2 mi in
Elevation Range
279 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Roodhouse, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
Springfield
111.4 mi in
|
~2h 12m
|
via I 55
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 Roodhouse, 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 4h 21m. Total distance: 229.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 127.2 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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 Roodhouse, 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 31 / South Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Roodhouse, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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