If you are planning to travel from Coal Valley to Aurora, expect a straightforward 133.5-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 33 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is efficient enough to complete without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to cover the distance across the Illinois landscape. The route primarily utilizes IL 110 and the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, making it a reliable choice for those prioritizing speed. Since both locations are situated within the Midwest, the transition between regions is seamless and familiar. Overall, this is a practical drive that gets you from the Quad Cities area to the Aurora region with minimal fuss.
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
66.8 miles from Coal Valley, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IL 110
116.7 mi
2h 5m
69th Avenue
6 mi
8m
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
5.1 mi
5m
North Lake Street
2.2 mi
4m
1st Street
1.7 mi
4m
East 1st Avenue
0.6 mi
<1m
IL 56
0.6 mi
1m
South Lincolnway Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
IL 110
— 116.7 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Coal Valley, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on US 150
47 ft·4 sec·East 23rd Avenue
2
Turn right onto 1st Street
1.7 mi·4 min·1st Street
3
Turn right onto US 6
0.6 mi·56 sec·East 1st Avenue
4
Continue on US 6
6.0 mi·8 min·69th Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
6
Merge onto I 80; IL 110
5.1 mi·5 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
7
Take the exit onto IL 110
117 mi·2 hr 5 min·IL 110
Exit 4BToward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
8
Take the exit onto IL 56
0.6 mi·1 min·IL 56
Exit 117Toward IL 31 East, IL 56 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto IL 31
0.4 mi·52 sec·South Lincolnway Street
10
Continue on IL 31
2.2 mi·4 min·North Lake Street
11
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi·9 sec·West Galena Boulevard
12
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one stop during your 133.5-mile trek to break up the time behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it best suits your schedule, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge as you transition between the highway segments, ensuring you have the $20 estimated for gas ready to go. My best tip is to utilize that single planned stop to stretch your legs during the transition off the longest 116.7-mile stretch of IL 110. This approach ensures you arrive in Aurora feeling refreshed rather than fatigued from the highway grind.
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 66.8 miles from Coal Valley, IL, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.7 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.8 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aurora, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Coal Valley, 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 Coal Valley, IL
This is one driving day of about 133.5 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Coal Valley, 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 IL 110 for about 116.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 130.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|1st Street
Turn right onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|US 6 / East 1st Avenue
Turn right onto US 6 / East 1st Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
8.3 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
13.6 mi into trip|~20m in|IL 110
Take the exit onto IL 110 toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4B
Toward I 88 East, IL 92 East: Sterling, Rock Fa...
8
130.3 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|IL 56
Take the exit onto IL 56 toward IL 31 East, IL 56 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 117
Toward IL 31 East, IL 56 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.87 one way
$41.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.92
$45.83
premium
$4.89
$25.69
$51.38
diesel
$5.61
$29.48
$58.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.1
0
$14.02
$6.41
Efficient EV
33.4
0
$11.68
$5.34
EV Truck/SUV
53.4
0
$18.69
$8.54
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Coal Valley, IL
Late night
in Coal Valley on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aurora, IL
Late night
in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Dixon, IL
67 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
1 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
2h 33m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a long, consistent rhythm during the 116.7-mile stretch on IL 110, which serves as the backbone of your journey. While the route involves navigating 69th Avenue briefly, the experience remains dominated by the efficiency of the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. Expect a steady, predictable pace rather than a winding or technical drive. Behind the wheel, you will find the road character to be functional and direct, ideal for drivers who prefer keeping a steady cruise speed throughout the majority of the trip.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.7 mi on IL 110.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 110 and 69th Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 1st Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Coal Valley, IL to Aurora, IL is easy. At 2h 33m with 92% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 6 / East 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
931 ft584 ft
Total Climb
372 ft
Total Descent
320 ft
Highest Point
931 ft
~95.4 mi in
Elevation Range
346 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 Coal Valley, IL to Aurora, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Falls along the way.
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
The longest stretch is about 116.7 miles on IL 110. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 6 / East 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Aurora, IL before heading back.
