Origin
Hawthorn Woods, IL
Late night in Hawthorn Woods on Tuesday
Local time
3:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hawthorn Woods, 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
1h 12m
Distance
50.3 mi
81 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hawthorn Woods, IL
Sinitta Leunen
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Hawthorn Woods to Aurora, you are looking at a straightforward 50.3-mile trip across Illinois. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 12 minutes on the road, making this a very manageable excursion that fits easily into a single day. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, it is an economical choice for commuters or weekend travelers alike. You will navigate a mix of thoroughfares including IL 53, I-355, and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. Since both locations are firmly within the Midwest, the drive maintains a familiar regional character throughout. Whether you are heading out for work or personal errands, the efficiency of this route allows for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 15.8 mi | 19m |
| IL 53 | 11.3 mi | 14m |
| I 355 | 9.5 mi | 11m |
| Quentin Road | 3.7 mi | 7m |
| North Rand Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| North Lake Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Rand Road | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Old McHenry Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 15.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hawthorn Woods, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on this road
106 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Circle Drive
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Circle Drive
3
Continue on Circle Drive
171 ft
·
10 sec
·
Circle Drive
4
Turn right onto V77
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Old McHenry Road
5
Turn left onto V62
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Quentin Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left
132 ft
·
13 sec
7
Turn left onto V62
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Quentin Road
8
Turn left onto US 12
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Rand Road
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 12
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Rand Road
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward IL 53 South
Use the right lane.
11
Merge onto IL 53
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
IL 53
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
I 355
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 20-22
Toward IL 56, I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora, Butterfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 20
Toward I 88 East, I 88 West: Aurora, Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 88 West: Aurora
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 117
Toward IL 31, IL 56 East
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto IL 31
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Lincolnway Street
21
Continue on IL 31
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Lake Street
22
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
23
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.1 miles from Hawthorn Woods, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 12.9 and 30.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
8
19.9 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
I 355
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
8
29.4 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward IL 56, I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora, Butterfield Road
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 20-22
Toward IL 56, I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora, Butte...
8
29.7 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora
9
30.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 East, I 88 West: Aurora, Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20
Toward I 88 East, I 88 West: Aurora, Chicago
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.86 one way
$15.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.63 | $17.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.68 | $19.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.11 | $22.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.95
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(15.8 mi)
$0.95
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.04 | $3.22 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
3:51 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
3 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 12m 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?
This trip features a mixed drive profile that balances local navigation with highway cruising. Approximately 42% of your journey will be spent on highways, providing a nice change of pace from slower suburban stretches. You will experience your longest uninterrupted segment while traveling 15.8 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. As you transition between these roads, the environment shifts from the quiet residential feel of Hawthorn Woods to the more bustling atmosphere near Aurora. Expect a steady flow of traffic as you move between these major Illinois corridors, keeping you focused but not overwhelmed behind the wheel.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.8 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.9 miles in near IL 53.
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 50.3 miles you will encounter 17 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 12.9 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
801 ft
676 ft
Total Climb
103 ft
Total Descent
228 ft
Highest Point
801 ft
Elevation Range
125 ft
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 Hawthorn Woods, IL to Aurora, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Chicago
30.4 mi in
|
~44m
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 1h 12m. Total distance: 50.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.95 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 12.9 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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