Skip to main content

Trip from Glenview, IL to Aurora, IL

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 7m

Distance

46 mi

74 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 2m ★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

village in Cook County, Illinois, United States

Glenview, IL

Wikimedia Commons

city on tripoints of DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties in Illinois, United States

Aurora, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Glenview to Aurora, you are in for a 46.4-mile journey across the Illinois landscape. Expect the drive to take roughly 1 hour and 1 minute, making it a straightforward day trip that requires no overnight stops. Because the route relies entirely on local roads like Glenayre Drive, Glenview Road, and Waukegan Road, you will not encounter any highway driving. Budgeting about $7 for fuel should comfortably cover the trip expenses. Since both locations are firmly situated within the Midwest, the drive offers a consistent regional feel. This path is best suited for those who prefer navigating local streets over high-speed interstate commuting.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway 22.8 mi 27m
Tri-State Tollway 10.5 mi 14m
West Touhy Avenue 3.2 mi 6m
North Waukegan Road 2.2 mi 3m
North Lake Street 2.2 mi 4m
Waukegan Road 1.2 mi 1m
Harlem Avenue 1 mi 1m
Glenview Road 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway — 22.8 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Glenview, IL and Aurora, IL.

1

Start on Glenayre Drive

282 ft · 19 sec · Glenayre Drive
2

At end of road, turn sharp left onto Glenayre Drive

340 ft · 18 sec · Glenayre Drive
3

Turn left onto Glenview Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Glenview Road
4

Turn left onto IL 43

1.2 mi · 1 min · Waukegan Road
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on IL 43; IL 58

1.3 mi · 2 min · North Waukegan Road
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on IL 43

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Waukegan Road
7

Turn left onto IL 43

1.0 mi · 1 min · Harlem Avenue
8

Turn right onto West Touhy Avenue

3.2 mi · 6 min · West Touhy Avenue
9

Turn left onto South Des Plaines River Road

184 ft · 3 sec · South Des Plaines River Road
10

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward I 294 South: Indiana
11

Merge onto I 294

8.9 mi · 11 min · Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit onto I 294

1.0 mi · 1 min · Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Tri-State Tollway
Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana Use the slight right lane.
14

Continue on I 294

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway
Exit 15A Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
15

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 49 sec
Exit 31A Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Merge onto I 88; IL 110

0.8 mi · 59 sec · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110

22 mi · 26 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138 Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road) Use the slight right lane.
18

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 117 Toward IL 31, IL 56 East Use the right lane.
19

Turn right onto IL 31

0.4 mi · 52 sec · South Lincolnway Street
20

Continue on IL 31

2.2 mi · 4 min · North Lake Street
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.

village in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lombard, IL

23 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.

Popular next leg

Lombard, IL to Aurora, IL

24.8 mi · 38m

Pacing Suggestions

Des Plaines, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lombard, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23 miles from Glenview, 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 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 17.8 and 42.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
17.8 mi into trip | ~28m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Take the exit onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
18.8 mi into trip | ~29m in | I 294 / Tri-State Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana
8
19.4 mi into trip | ~31m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 31A Toward I 88 West Toll: Aurora
8
20.7 mi into trip | ~32m in | I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 138 Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
8
42.7 mi into trip | ~59m 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

$7.19 one way

$14.38 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $7.90 $15.79
premium $4.89 $8.85 $17.70
diesel $5.61 $10.16 $20.31

Estimated Tolls: $2.00

Reagan Memorial Tollway (22.8 mi) $1.37
Tri-state Tollway (10.5 mi) $0.63

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Tolls

$2

Total

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.8 0 $4.83 $2.21
Efficient EV 11.5 0 $4.02 $1.84
EV Truck/SUV 18.4 0 $6.44 $2.94

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Glenview, IL

Late night in Glenview on Tuesday

Local time

5:39 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Aurora, IL

Late night in Aurora on Tuesday

Local time

5:39 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

4 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 7m 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?

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route keeps you on surface streets for the entire 46.4-mile duration, meaning your highway share is exactly 0%. You will spend your time navigating through local infrastructure rather than cruising at high speeds. With no long, uninterrupted stretches—the longest being 0 miles on Glenayre Drive—the pace remains steady and stop-and-go. Expect a hands-on experience that requires frequent adjustments as you transition between Glenview Road and Waukegan Road.

Only 0% 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: 22.8 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 17.8 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46 miles you will encounter 16 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 17.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Glenview, IL and Aurora, IL, road signs point toward Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).

Indiana

17.8 mi in | ~28m | via I 294

22Nd Street (Cermak Road)

20.7 mi in | ~32m | via I 88; IL 110

About the Cities

Starting in Glenview, IL

Full guide →

Founded 1899

Glenview is a town of some 45,000 people in suburban Cook County, Illinois, part of the Chicagoland area. Once home to the Glenview Naval Air Station, the 1,121-acre facility was turned over to the local government and was redeveloped as The Glen, one of Glenview's prime residential and commercial areas.

Top landmarks

  • Kohl Children's Museum — children's museum in Illinois, United States

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 1h 7m. Total distance: 46 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 7m 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 22.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.00 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.

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 17.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.8 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.4 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Glenview, IL or browse trips ending in Aurora, IL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.