Origin
Elmhurst, IL
Late night in Elmhurst on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, 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
41m
Distance
28.4 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 29.6-mile drive from Elmhurst, IL to Aurora, IL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 38 minutes. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with no highway driving involved, making it a distinctly turn-heavy experience. With an estimated fuel cost of around $5, this short journey through the Midwest is a practical option for a quick transit. Given its brevity, you won't need an overnight stay, allowing for a flexible schedule. It’s a simple hop within Illinois, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 21.8 mi | 26m |
| North Lake Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| South York Street | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| South York Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Lincolnway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Galena Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Frontage Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Park Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 21.8 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on this road
267 ft
·
25 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
51 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
362 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Park Avenue
4
Turn right onto South York Street
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
South York Street
5
Continue on South York Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South York Road
6
Turn right onto Frontage Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Frontage Road
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 88 West, IL 110: West Aurora
8
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
22 mi
·
26 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 117
Toward IL 31, IL 56 East
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto IL 31
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Lincolnway Street
11
Continue on IL 31
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Lake Street
12
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
13
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 25.2 — 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
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Park Avenue
Turn left onto West Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 88 West, IL 110: West Aurora
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 88 West, IL 110: West Aurora
7
3.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
8
25.2 mi into trip
|
~33m 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
$4.44 one way
$8.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.87 | $9.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.47 | $10.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.27 | $12.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.31
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(21.8 mi)
$1.31
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 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 | 8.5 | 0 | $2.98 | $1.36 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.98 | $1.82 |
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
5:11 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
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
41m 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 true local drive on this route, characterized by frequent turns rather than long, sweeping curves. With a 0% highway share, your journey will be entirely on surface streets, specifically utilizing West Park Avenue and South York Street/Road. There isn't a 'longest stretch' to mention, as the nature of this drive implies consistent navigation through neighborhoods and local thoroughfares. The road's personality remains consistent throughout, offering a predictable, albeit turn-filled, experience from start to finish.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.8 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
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 28.4 miles you will encounter 8 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Elmhurst, IL to Aurora, IL, road signs begin pointing toward 22Nd Street (Cermak Road) along the way.
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
3.4 mi in
|
~7m
|
via I 88; IL 110
About the Cities
Starting in Elmhurst, IL
Full guide →Elmhurst is in Chicagoland.
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 41m. Total distance: 28.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.31 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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