Origin
DeKalb, IL
Late night in DeKalb on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from DeKalb, IL to Aurora, 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
38m
Distance
28.9 mi
47 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
DeKalb, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning just 28.9 miles, this straightforward trek between DeKalb and Aurora, Illinois, is a quick commute that typically takes about 33 minutes. You will primarily utilize Peace Road and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) to navigate between these two Midwest hubs. Given the short duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single day trip and requires no overnight stops. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $4, it remains a highly economical way to travel across the region. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the simplicity of this connection makes it an easy addition to your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 22.2 mi | 23m |
| North Lake Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Peace Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| East Lincoln Highway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| IL 56 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Lincolnway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Galena Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 22.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between DeKalb, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on IL 38
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Lincoln Highway
2
Turn right onto Peace Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Peace Road
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 88 Toll East: Chicago
4
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
22 mi
·
23 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
5
Take the exit onto IL 56
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 56
Exit 117
Toward IL 31 East, IL 56 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn right onto IL 31
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Lincolnway Street
7
Continue on IL 31
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Lake Street
8
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
9
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 28.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Peace Road
Turn right onto Peace Road
Navigation decision point
4
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 88 Toll East: Chicago
Navigation decision point
Toward I 88 Toll East: Chicago
3
3.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining
8
25.7 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
3
28.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
West Galena Boulevard
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.52 one way
$9.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.96 | $9.92 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.56 | $11.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.38 | $12.76 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.33
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(22.2 mi)
$1.33
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.39 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.53 | $1.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.05 | $1.85 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Aurora, IL
Late night in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
20 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
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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you transition between your starting point and the main highway corridors. While the route relies on I-88 and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, the journey maintains a practical, functional feel rather than a scenic one. You won't face any long, monotonous stretches here, as the road requires frequent attention to your surroundings and navigation. The character of the drive shifts from local transit through DeKalb to the more structured environment of the tollway system. Staying alert is key, as the constant shifts in road type keep the experience engaging for the driver.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.2 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near Peace Road.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from DeKalb, IL to Aurora, IL is easy. At 38m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (Peace Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
About the Cities
Starting in DeKalb, IL
Full guide →Founded 1837
DeKalb is a city in Illinois.
Top landmarks
- • Egyptian Theatre, DeKalb — movie theater in DeKalb, Illinois
Arriving 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 38m. Total distance: 28.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.2 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.33 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 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 1.5 miles (Peace Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Aurora, 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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