Origin
Aurora, IL
Late night in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, IL to Savanna, IL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 31m
Distance
116 mi
187 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 21m
★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Savanna, IL
Hugo Sykes
Trip Overview
This 116-mile drive from Aurora, IL to Savanna, IL is a straightforward, single-day trip that can be completed in about 2 hours and 31 minutes. It's a convenient option for a quick getaway, with a modest estimated fuel cost of $18. The route primarily utilizes the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and then transitions to US 52 and IL 26, offering a mixed driving experience. Since it's a relatively short journey within the Midwest region, you won't need an overnight stay, allowing for a flexible schedule. This trip is ideal if you're looking for an easy drive without extensive planning.
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 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 62.1 mi | 1h 6m |
| US 52 | 40.7 mi | 1h 2m |
| IL 26 | 9.3 mi | 14m |
| North Lake Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| IL 56 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Lincolnway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Galena Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 62.1 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Savanna, 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
59 mi
·
1 hr 3 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 IL 26: Dixon
9
Turn right onto IL 26
9.3 mi
·
14 min
·
IL 26
10
Continue on US 52; IL 26
37 mi
·
54 min
·
US 52; IL 26
11
Continue on US 52; IL 64
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
US 52; IL 64
12
Arrive at destination
US 52; IL 64; IL 84
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 31-minute drive, leaving Aurora in the morning is advisable to maximize your time in Savanna. With only one stop likely needed, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $18, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing. Watch for the transition off the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway onto US 52 and IL 26, as this is where the driving character changes. Planning to depart mid-morning on a weekday can help you avoid potential weekend traffic on the tollway.
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 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.1 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58 miles or 1h 5m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Savanna, 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 miles and 2h 31m.
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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 62.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.1 miles.
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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 65.3 — 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
4
65.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward IL 26: Dixon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IL 26: Dixon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.14 one way
$36.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.91 | $39.82 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.32 | $44.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.61 | $51.22 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.73
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(62.1 mi)
$3.73
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
$18
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 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 | 34.8 | 0 | $12.18 | $5.57 |
| Efficient EV | 29 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.4 | 0 | $16.24 | $7.42 |
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.
Destination
Savanna, IL
Late night in Savanna on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Dixon, IL
58 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
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 31m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll experience a mixed drive on this 116-mile route, with 44% of it on highways. The journey begins with a longer stretch of 62.1 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, providing a consistent pace. After this, the drive shifts to US 52 and IL 26, likely offering a change in scenery and road conditions as you move away from the main tollway. This progression means you'll transition from consistent highway speeds to potentially more varied local road driving as you get closer to Savanna.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.1 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 31 / North 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 31m drive. You will face about 7 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 / 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.
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 Savanna, IL
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Savanna–Sabula Bridge — bridge in Jackson County, Iowa
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 31m. Total distance: 116 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.1 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.73 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.
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 / 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 Savanna, 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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