Spanning 111.1 miles, the journey from Lena to Aurora is a straightforward trek across the Illinois Midwest that typically takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You can expect to spend approximately $16 on fuel for the one-way trip. Navigating this path involves connecting via North Schuyler Street, IL 73, and U-roads rather than relying on major interstates. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that connects two distinct parts of the state, making it an efficient choice if you prefer local roads over heavy highway traffic.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.1 miles from Lena, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
38 mi
40m
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
36.7 mi
44m
I 39
21.5 mi
23m
West State Road
9.8 mi
11m
North Lake Street
2.2 mi
4m
IL 73
1 mi
1m
North Schuyler Street
0.6 mi
<1m
IL 56
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 38 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lena, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on West Lena Street
93 ft·3 sec·West Lena Street
2
Turn right onto IL 73
0.6 mi·55 sec·North Schuyler Street
3
Continue on IL 73
1.0 mi·1 min·IL 73
4
Turn left onto US 20
25 mi·30 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
5
Continue on US 20
9.8 mi·11 min·West State Road
6
Continue on US 20
11 mi·13 min·U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Toward US 20 East: Chicago
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
8
Merge onto I 39; US 51
21 mi·23 min·I 39; US 51
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 97AToward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
10
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
38 mi·40 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
11
Take the exit onto IL 56
0.6 mi·1 min·IL 56
Exit 117Toward IL 31 East, IL 56 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto IL 31
0.4 mi·52 sec·South Lincolnway Street
13
Continue on IL 31
2.2 mi·4 min·North Lake Street
14
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi·9 sec·West Galena Boulevard
15
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 50 minute travel time, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than fighting rush-hour highway congestion. Since there are no designated stops included in the route data, make sure to handle your refueling or rest needs before you head out or at your final destination. Keep in mind that your $16 fuel budget is an estimate, so it is wise to check local gas prices near Lena before you depart. Because this is a turn-heavy drive, ensure your GPS is updated and ready to guide you through the transition between IL 73 and local roads. Staying alert for changing road signs will be your best strategy for a smooth arrival in Aurora.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 56.1 miles from Lena, IL, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 25 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.1 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aurora, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lena, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lena, IL
This is one driving day of about 112.1 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Lena, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 38 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 108.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IL 73 / North Schuyler Street
Turn right onto IL 73 / North Schuyler Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.7 mi into trip|~2m in|US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Turn left onto US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Navigation decision point
3
48.2 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
70.5 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 97A
Toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
8
108.9 mi into trip|~2h 4m 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
$17.53 one way
$35.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.24
$38.48
premium
$4.89
$21.57
$43.15
diesel
$5.61
$24.75
$49.50
Estimated Tolls: $2.28
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(38 mi)$2.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.81
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.69
$7.17
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Lena, IL
Late night
in Lena on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aurora, IL
Late night
in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Cherry Valley, IL
56 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
2h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate a series of local roads, meaning there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway; in fact, the longest segment on North Schuyler Street is 0 miles. The character of the road remains consistent and technical, requiring your full attention as you transition between various local routes. Since you won't be cruising on high-speed expressways, the pace feels more grounded and connected to the landscape. Prepare for frequent adjustments behind the wheel as you navigate the turns inherent to this local-road-focused path.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 73 / North Schuyler Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 12m drive. You will face about 8 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 73 / North Schuyler Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point; at 48.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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
The longest stretch is about 38 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.28 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 — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IL 73 / North Schuyler Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point; at 48.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Aurora, IL before heading back.
