Origin
Kirkland, IL
Morning in Kirkland on Tuesday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kirkland, 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 2m
Distance
45.6 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kirkland, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 45.6-mile drive from Kirkland, IL, to Aurora, IL, is a manageable 1-hour trip, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily navigate the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with portions on Glidden Road and West Main Street. The estimated fuel cost is around $7, which is quite economical for the distance. Given the short duration and minimal stops recommended, this route is best suited for a direct journey, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Both Kirkland and Aurora are situated in the Midwest region of Illinois, offering a consistent regional feel throughout your drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 25.2 mi | 27m |
| Glidden Road | 9.7 mi | 14m |
| West Main Street | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| North Annie Glidden Road | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| North Lake Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| IL 56 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Lincolnway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Galena Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 25.2 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on South 6th Street
53 ft
·
4 sec
·
South 6th Street
2
Turn right onto IL 72
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
West Main Street
3
Turn right onto CH 5
9.7 mi
·
14 min
·
Glidden Road
4
Continue on CH 5
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
North Annie Glidden Road
5
Take the ramp
239 ft
·
5 sec
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 88 East, IL 110 East
7
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
this road
8
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
25 mi
·
27 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
9
Take the exit onto IL 56
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 56
Exit 117
Toward IL 31 East, IL 56 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.8 miles from Kirkland, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 42.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 72 / West Main Street
Turn right onto IL 72 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
3.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CH 5 / Glidden Road
Turn right onto CH 5 / Glidden Road
Navigation decision point
6
16.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 88 East, IL 110 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 88 East, IL 110 East
3
17.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining
8
42.4 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
$7.13 one way
$14.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.83 | $15.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.78 | $17.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.07 | $20.14 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.51
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(25.2 mi)
$1.51
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 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 | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
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.
Destination
Aurora, IL
Morning in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Cortland, IL
23 mi in
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
20 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 2m 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 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this 1-hour journey. While 100% of your route is on highways, it includes local road segments. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 25.2 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. This suggests a mix of potentially faster highway driving punctuated by turns and transitions onto local roads like Glidden Road and West Main Street. The character of the drive will likely shift as you move between the tollway and these more localized routes.
Only 1% 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: 25.2 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 early in the drive near IL 72 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 2m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IL 72 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (CH 5 / Glidden Road): Navigation decision point; at 16.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 2m. Total distance: 45.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.2 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.51 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: near the start (IL 72 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (CH 5 / Glidden Road): Navigation decision point; at 16.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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