Origin
Elwood, IL
Late night in Elwood on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elwood, 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
58m
Distance
33.2 mi
53 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 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elwood, IL
Almighty Shilref
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Elwood to Aurora, Illinois, you are looking at a straightforward 43.9-mile journey that typically takes about one hour to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via East Mississippi Avenue, South Saint Louis Street, and South Chicago Road. With fuel costs estimated at around $7, it is an affordable way to move between these two Midwestern locations. The route is entirely local, providing a direct connection without the need for interstate travel. It is a practical choice if you prefer a consistent, turn-heavy driving experience over a long-distance highway haul.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Highway | 7.5 mi | 11m |
| South Chicago Road | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| South Chicago Street | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| South Larkin Avenue | 2.9 mi | 6m |
| Plainfield Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Joliet Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Hill Avenue | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| I 80 | 2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 7.5 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elwood, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on South Chicago Street
50 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Chicago Street
2
Turn right onto East Mississippi Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Mississippi Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Saint Louis Street
497 ft
·
23 sec
·
South Saint Louis Street
4
Turn left onto IL 53
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
South Chicago Road
5
Continue on IL 53
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
South Chicago Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 80 West: Moline-Rock Island
7
Merge onto I 80
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 80
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 130B
Toward IL 7 North: Larkin Avenue
Use the right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
169 ft
·
4 sec
Exit 130B
Toward IL 7 North: Larkin Avenue
10
Turn straight onto IL 7
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
South Larkin Avenue
11
Turn left onto US 30
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Plainfield Road
12
Continue on US 30
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Joliet Road
Use the right lane.
13
Turn slight right onto US 30; IL 59; US 66 Hist
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Division Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto US 30
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
143rd Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto US 30
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Lincoln Highway
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on Hill Avenue
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Hill Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on East Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Galena Boulevard
18
Turn right onto North Ohio Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
North Ohio Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto East New York Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East New York Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto IL 31
417 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Lake Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
22
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.6 miles from Elwood, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 10.7 and 31.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
10.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward IL 7 North: Larkin Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 130B
Toward IL 7 North: Larkin Avenue
7
11 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 7 North: Larkin Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 130B
Toward IL 7 North: Larkin Avenue
6
20.4 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
US 30 / 143rd Street
Turn left onto US 30 / 143rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
31.4 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
North Ohio Street
Turn right onto North Ohio Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
31.5 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
East New York Street
Turn left onto East New York Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.19 one way
$10.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.70 | $11.40 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.39 | $12.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.33 | $14.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.49 | $1.59 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.91 | $1.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.12 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
5:40 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
2 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
58m 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 very different experience than a typical interstate cruise, as this route consists of 0% highway driving. Instead, you will navigate a series of local roads that demand your full attention due to the high frequency of turns. Because the longest stretch on East Mississippi Avenue is 0 miles, you will find yourself constantly adjusting your pace and direction throughout the hour-long trip. This turn-heavy profile makes for a more engaged, hands-on driving style. Be prepared for a steady, technical drive rather than a monotonous, high-speed sprint across the region.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.5 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 33.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 20.4 miles (US 30 / 143rd Street): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
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 58m. Total distance: 33.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.5 miles on Lincoln Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Aurora, IL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 10.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 20.4 miles (US 30 / 143rd Street): 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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