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Trip from Aurora, IL to South Beloit, IL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 38m

Distance

86.1 mi

139 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 31m ★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 54m
10 AM
1h 44m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 45m
5 PM
1h 53m
8 PM
1h 34m

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

city in Winnebago County, Illinois, United States

South Beloit, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Aurora, IL to South Beloit, IL is 86.1 miles and takes about 1h 38m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and I-39, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Illinois, connecting two Midwest locales. The drive is predominantly on tollways, offering a straightforward path north. Given its relatively short duration, it's an ideal option for a single-day excursion, whether for a quick visit or a transit point. Plan for a drive that requires minimal navigation and offers a predictable travel time.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

43 miles from Aurora, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 37.6 mi 40m
I 39 25.8 mi 28m
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway 15.9 mi 17m
Gardner Street 2.3 mi 4m
North Lake Street 2.2 mi 4m
IL 56 0.6 mi 1m
US 51 0.4 mi <1m
South Lincolnway Street 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway — 37.6 mi, about 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and South Beloit, 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

22 mi · 23 min · I 39; US 51
10

Merge onto I 39; US 20; US 51

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 39; US 20; US 51
11

Continue on I 39; US 51

1.7 mi · 1 min · I 39; US 51
12

Merge onto I 39; I 90; US 51

16 mi · 17 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
13

Take the exit onto US 51

0.4 mi · 54 sec · US 51
Toward US 51 north, IL 75: South Beloit
14

Turn left onto US 51; IL 75

2.3 mi · 4 min · Gardner Street
15

Arrive at destination

IL 75

Trip Plan

With a drive time under two hours, this route offers considerable flexibility. You can depart in the morning and arrive with plenty of the day remaining, or even leave in the afternoon. Consider leaving Aurora before peak commuter hours to make the initial leg on the tollways smoother. Since the longest stretch is over 37 miles, you'll want to ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking, though gas stations are generally available at toll plazas and interchanges. There are no specific stops recommended within the data, so enjoy the efficiency and adjust your timing based on your personal schedule.

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 43 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 49m 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 19 miles or 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43 miles or 49m 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 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Beloit, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Aurora, IL

This is one driving day of about 86.1 miles and 1h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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.

city in De Kalb County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

DeKalb, IL

43 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

Big Rock, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Davis Junction, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43 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 · home stretch

West Side Family Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Beloit, Wisconsin

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+16083654949

Visit website

The Fit Hub Rochelle

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rochelle, Illinois

1.9 mi

Oak Street Restaurant And Bar

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

North Aurora, Illinois

2.2 mi

West Side Family Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Beloit, Wisconsin

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+16083654949

Visit website

The Fit Hub Rochelle

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18152184988

Oak Street Restaurant And Bar

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.2 mi from route ~5 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 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18157628212

Grubsteakers Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18155623430

Luna

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Rochelle, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18155612727

Visit website

The Junction Eating Place

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

DeKalb, Illinois

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+18157585441

Visit website

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

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Turtle Creek Welcome Center (Southbound Only)

0.1 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.1 mi from route

DeKalb Oasis

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.3 mi from route

Speedway

0.3 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.4 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.5 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.6 mi from route

Beloit Rest Area 22

1.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

2.4 mi from route

Midway Village Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Rockford, Illinois

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18153979112

Visit website

Flight Deck A Global Inspired Pub

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Halfway reset 3.7 mi from route ~9 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 11

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

$13.46 one way

$26.92 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.78 $29.56
premium $4.89 $16.57 $33.14
diesel $5.61 $19.01 $38.02

Estimated Tolls: $3.37

Reagan Memorial Tollway (37.6 mi) $2.26
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (15.9 mi) $1.11

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

$13

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.8 0 $9.04 $4.13
Efficient EV 21.5 0 $7.53 $3.44
EV Truck/SUV 34.4 0 $12.05 $5.51

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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 Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Aurora, IL

Late night in Aurora on Tuesday

Local time

5:18 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Beloit, IL

Late night in South Beloit on Tuesday

Local time

5:18 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°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

3 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

1h 38m 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?

This route presents a mixed drive, with 31% on highways. You'll experience stretches on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and I-39, which are typically efficient for covering ground. The longest uninterrupted segment covers 37.6 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, allowing for a sustained period of travel without frequent exits. The overall feel is one of directness, moving from one point to another with an emphasis on speed and convenience rather than varied scenery.

31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 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

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 / 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

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 1h 38m. Total distance: 86.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface 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 $3.37 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 — we found about 14 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 South Beloit, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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 South Beloit, 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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