Trip from Paris, 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

4h 25m

Distance

191 mi

307 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 12m ★

6 AM

4h 26m

8 AM

4h 52m

10 AM

4h 35m

12 PM

4h 32m

3 PM

4h 36m

5 PM

4h 51m

8 PM

4h 18m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Paris, IL

Wikimedia Commons

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

Aurora, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Paris to Aurora, Illinois, covers 227.2 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 39 minutes. This journey is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $34 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the heart of the Midwest, you will rely on a combination of Route 1, Georgetown Road, and US 36. Because this path avoids major interstates, it offers a more grounded, local experience compared to typical highway travel, making it a straightforward choice for those who prefer backroads over high-speed transit.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

95.5 miles from Paris, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
IL 9	77.9 mi	1h 49m
I 74	41.8 mi	45m
Georgetown Road	29.8 mi	44m
County Road 400 East	7.7 mi	10m
IL 31	5.9 mi	9m
County Road 350 East	4.5 mi	6m
Minkler Road	4.3 mi	6m
North 450 East Road	3.5 mi	4m

Longest stretch: IL 9 — 77.9 mi, about 1h 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on West Court Street

335 ft · 20 sec · West Court Street

Turn left onto US 150; IL 1

2.4 mi · 6 min · IL Route 1

Continue on US 150; IL 1

10 mi · 14 min · Georgetown Road

Continue on US 150; IL 1

0.3 mi · 28 sec · 1575 E US 36

Continue on US 150; IL 1

6.1 mi · 9 min · Georgetown Road

Continue on US 150; IL 1

1.9 mi · 2 min · North State Street

Continue on US 150; IL 1

14 mi · 20 min · Georgetown Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 41 sec

Toward I 74 West: Champaign

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 45 sec

Toward I 74 West

Merge onto I 74

42 mi · 45 min · I 74

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Exit 172 Toward IL 47: Gibson City, Mahomet

Turn right onto IL 47

0.1 mi · 16 sec · County Road 400 East

Continue on IL 47

4.5 mi · 6 min · County Road 350 East

Continue on IL 47

7.5 mi · 10 min · County Road 400 East

Continue on IL 47

2.1 mi · 2 min · County Road 450 East

Continue on IL 47

3.5 mi · 4 min · North 450 East Road

Continue on IL 47

383 ft · 7 sec · North 450E Road

Continue on IL 47

0.4 mi · 54 sec · South Sangamon Avenue

Turn left onto IL 9; IL 47; IL 54

0.5 mi · 53 sec · West 1st Street

Turn slight right

138 ft · 7 sec

Turn right onto IL 9; IL 47

78 mi · 1 hr 49 min · IL 9; IL 47

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto Walker Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Walker Road

Turn left onto Ashley Road

2.8 mi · 3 min · Ashley Road

At end of road, turn right onto IL 126

0.5 mi · 46 sec · East Schoolhouse Road

Turn left onto Minkler Road

3.4 mi · 4 min · Minkler Road

Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road

126 ft · 3 sec · Minkler Road

Continue on Minkler Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Minkler Road

Continue on Orchard Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Orchard Road

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto US 34

1.2 mi · 2 min · US 34

Use the right lane.

Continue on IL 31

2.5 mi · 4 min · IL 31

Continue on IL 31

3.4 mi · 5 min · IL 31

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto West Galena Boulevard

0.1 mi · 9 sec · West Galena Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

West Galena Boulevard

Trip Plan

Since this is a turn-heavy route, planning your departure during daylight hours is highly recommended to ensure better visibility for navigation. With only one planned stop required, you have the flexibility to pace your driving to suit your personal comfort level. Be sure to fuel up before heading out, keeping your $34 budget in mind as you manage your vehicle's needs. Because the route lacks long stretches on main highways, keep a close eye on your GPS or maps to stay on course through the various local road transitions. Taking a break halfway through will help you stay refreshed for the more technical sections of the drive.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 95.5 miles from Paris, IL, or about 2h 8m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.9 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 42 miles or 1h 3m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 95.5 miles or 2h 8m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 34m

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 Paris, 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 Paris, IL

This is one driving day of about 191 miles and 4h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Paris, IL.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on IL 9 for about 77.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

village in Champaign County, Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fisher, IL

96 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

Danville, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fisher, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 95.5 miles from Paris, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before IL 9 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.9 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · around the midpoint

Blue Star Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Gibson City, Illinois

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset · 2h 13m in / 2h 13m to go 0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 5 am–2 pm

+12177844033

Cornelio's

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Georgetown, Illinois

1.7 mi

Rich's Restaurant Ogden

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ogden, Illinois

2.2 mi

Blue Star Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Gibson City, Illinois

Hours: 5 am–2 pm

+12177844033

Cornelio's

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Georgetown, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12176620032

Visit website

Rich's Restaurant Ogden

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Ogden, Illinois

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+12175822777

Monical's Pizza

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

St Joseph, Illinois

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12174697777

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Early stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Champaign, Illinois

+18668167584

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Early stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Champaign, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Oakwood, Illinois

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12173544098

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 34.8 and 190.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

34.8 mi into trip | ~55m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 74 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 74 West

77 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in

Take the exit toward IL 47: Gibson City, Mahomet

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

Exit 172 Toward IL 47: Gibson City, Mahomet

178.3 mi into trip | ~4h 4m in | IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road

At end of road, turn right onto IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road

Navigation decision point

182.1 mi into trip | ~4h 10m in | Minkler Road

Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

190.9 mi into trip | ~4h 25m in | West Galena Boulevard

Turn left onto West Galena Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$29.86 one way

$59.72 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 67 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$32.79	$65.57
premium	$4.89	$36.76	$73.51
diesel	$5.61	$42.17	$84.34

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 66.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	57.3	$20.05	$9.17
Efficient EV	47.8	$16.71	$7.64
EV Truck/SUV	76.4	$26.74	$12.22

Gas CO2

67 kg

EV CO2

22 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

Paris, IL

Late night in Paris on Tuesday

Local time

3:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Aurora, IL

Late night in Aurora on Tuesday

Local time

3:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

3 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

4h 25m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will navigate local infrastructure for the entire 227.2-mile duration. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches on Route 1, requiring you to stay alert through constant transitions and directional changes. The personality of this drive is distinctly hands-on, providing a direct connection to the landscape as you move through rural Illinois. Prepare for a road that favors steady, deliberate driving over high-speed cruising.

68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 77.9 mi on IL 9.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IL 9 and I 74. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 34.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 25m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 34.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 77 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.3 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point.

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 Paris, IL to Aurora, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Mahomet along the way.

Mahomet

77 mi in | ~1h 41m

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 4h 25m. Total distance: 191 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (68%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 77.9 miles on IL 9. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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.

Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Aurora, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

Trip from Paris, IL to Aurora, IL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Blue Star Cafe

Blue Star Cafe

Cornelio's

Rich's Restaurant Ogden

Monical's Pizza

Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant

Basil Thai At Urbana

Oak Street Restaurant And Bar

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

EV Connect Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

Nissan Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Destination Charger

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Paris, IL

Aurora, IL

Same local time

3 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 25m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in Aurora, IL

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Aurora, IL

More from Paris, IL

More trips to Aurora, IL