Origin
Downers Grove, IL
Late night in Downers Grove on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Downers Grove, IL to Aurora, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
20.1 mi
32 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Downers Grove, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Downers Grove and Aurora, Illinois, this 20.1-mile journey is a quick trip that covers a short distance in the Midwest. Expect a driving time of approximately 26 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day outing that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate using a combination of Ogden Avenue, I-355 North, and I-88 West. With fuel costs estimated at just $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly commute. Because there are no required stops along the way, you can easily complete this trek in one go without needing to plan for extended breaks.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 13.8 mi | 16m |
| Ogden Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| North Lake Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| South Lincolnway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Galena Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 13.8 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Downers Grove, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on Main Street
37 ft
·
4 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 34
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Ogden Avenue
3
Take the ramp
276 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 355 North, I 88 West: Northwest Suburbs, Aurora
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 88 West: Aurora
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 117
Toward IL 31, IL 56 East
Use the right lane.
7
Turn right onto IL 31
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Lincolnway Street
8
Continue on IL 31
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Lake Street
9
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
10
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 16.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 34 / Ogden Avenue
Turn right onto US 34 / Ogden Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 355 North, I 88 West: Northwest Suburbs, Aurora
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 355 North, I 88 West: Northwest Suburb...
7
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 West: Aurora
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 88 West: Aurora
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m 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. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward IL 31, IL 56 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 117
Toward IL 31, IL 56 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.14 one way
$6.28 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.45 | $6.90 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.87 | $7.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.44 | $8.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.83
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(13.8 mi)
$0.83
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.11 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.29 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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 Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
1 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
30m 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 that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than settling into a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, you won't be spending your time on long, open stretches of high-speed pavement. The longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on Ogden Avenue, emphasizing that this route is defined by frequent transitions and local navigation. The road's personality is functional and straightforward, shifting through suburban settings as you move from Downers Grove toward your destination. It is a practical, utilitarian drive that favors local connectivity over scenic highway cruising.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.8 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 34 / Ogden Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 20.1 miles you will encounter 6 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: near the start (US 34 / Ogden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Downers Grove, IL
Full guide →Founded 1832
Downers Grove is a village in Chicagoland. With a 2005 population of 49,000, Downers Grove has developed into a major Chicago suburb. It contains the headquarters of many major companies, including Sara Lee and Butterball, and has a bustling, trendy downtown.
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 30m. Total distance: 20.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.83 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. 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: near the start (US 34 / Ogden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Pullman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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