Traveling from Durand to Aurora covers 91.3 miles of Illinois landscape, making for a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 33 minutes. Because this is a compact trip within the Midwest, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won’t need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel to complete the drive. Navigating this route relies entirely on local roads rather than interstates, offering a different pace than your typical highway transit. Since there are no mandatory stops included in this route, you have total control over your schedule and can easily complete the drive in one efficient stretch.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from Durand, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
38 mi
40m
I 39
21.5 mi
23m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
9.4 mi
10m
Trask Bridge Road
9 mi
12m
North Meridian Road
4.6 mi
8m
South Center Road
3.8 mi
5m
North Lake Street
2.2 mi
4m
IL 56
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 38 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durand, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on North Center Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·North Center Street
2
Continue on IL 70
3.8 mi·5 min·South Center Road
3
Continue on IL 70
9.0 mi·12 min·Trask Bridge Road
4
Turn right onto CH 24
2.7 mi·4 min·North Meridian Road
5
Enter roundabout onto North Meridian Road
156 ft·8 sec·North Meridian Road
6
Continue on North Meridian Road
1.9 mi·3 min·North Meridian Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
8
Merge onto US 20
9.4 mi·10 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Toward US 20 East: Chicago
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
10
Merge onto I 39; US 51
21 mi·23 min·I 39; US 51
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 97AToward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
12
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
38 mi·40 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
13
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.
14
Turn right onto IL 31
0.4 mi·52 sec·South Lincolnway Street
15
Continue on IL 31
2.2 mi·4 min·North Lake Street
16
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi·9 sec·West Galena Boulevard
17
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Trip Plan
Since this 91.3-mile trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for off-peak hours can help you navigate local intersections more smoothly. With no planned stops, make sure to fuel up before you head out to cover the estimated $14 cost in one go. Keep in mind that because you are relying on roads like Trask Bridge and North Meridian, your pace will be dictated by local traffic and road geometry. Stay focused on your navigation, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires your full attention compared to a standard highway drive. Take advantage of the route's simplicity by keeping your gear organized in the car, allowing for a quick and easy arrival in Aurora.
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 45.7 miles from Durand, IL, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38 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 20 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 58m 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 30m
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 Durand, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Durand, IL
This is one driving day of about 91.3 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Durand, 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 38 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 88.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.9 mi into trip|~23m in|North Meridian Road
Enter roundabout onto North Meridian Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
17.8 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
18 mi into trip|~27m in|US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Merge onto US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway toward US 20 East: Chicago
Merge point - match speed before joining
Toward US 20 East: Chicago
5
49.7 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 97A
Toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
8
88.1 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
$14.27 one way
$28.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.67
$31.34
premium
$4.89
$17.57
$35.14
diesel
$5.61
$20.16
$40.32
Estimated Tolls: $2.28
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(38 mi)$2.28
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
$14
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.4
0
$9.59
$4.38
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
EV Truck/SUV
36.5
0
$12.78
$5.84
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 14, 2026
Origin
Durand, IL
Morning
in Durand on Sunday
Local time
10:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aurora, IL
Morning
in Aurora on Sunday
Local time
10:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 14 at 4:05PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Tornado Watch
Tornado Watch issued April 14 at 2:35PM CDT until April 14 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
12 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
1h 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route maintains a 0% highway share. You will primarily navigate via South Center Road, Trask Bridge Road, and North Meridian Road, which keeps the experience focused on regional backroads. Because the entire 91.3-mile distance is comprised of local roads, you should stay alert for frequent turns and intersections throughout the duration of your trip. The drive lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches, so you will be actively engaged behind the wheel for the full 1 hour and 33 minutes. It is a practical way to see the transition between these two Illinois locations without the high-speed pressure of major expressways.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 15.9 miles in near North Meridian Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 52m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 15.9 miles (North Meridian Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 38 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.28 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: at 15.9 miles (North Meridian Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): 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.
