Richmond, IL to Aurora, IL is 138.6 miles and takes about 2h 58m via I 55, IL 47, and US 136, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, specifically Illinois, making it a straightforward trip between two points in the same state. With a high percentage of highway driving, expect a relatively quick transit. It's a good option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a lot of detours. Plan for a single day to complete this drive comfortably.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.3 miles from Richmond, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
74.6 mi
1h 19m
IL 47
32 mi
38m
US 136
7.7 mi
11m
IL 31
5.9 mi
9m
Minkler Road
4.3 mi
6m
Armington Road
3.2 mi
7m
Ashley Road
2.8 mi
3m
Walker Road
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 74.6 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on Center Road
0.9 mi·3 min·Center Road
2
Turn right onto Grove Road
1.5 mi·5 min·Grove Road
3
Turn left onto Armington Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Armington Road
4
Continue on West 3rd Street
1.1 mi·2 min·West 3rd Street
5
Turn right onto Armington Road
2.0 mi·4 min·Armington Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 136
7.7 mi·11 min·US 136
7
Turn left
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 55 North: Bloomington
8
Merge onto I 55
11 mi·11 min·I 55
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 55
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, PeoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·35 sec
Exit 220Toward IL 47: Morris, DwightUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto IL 47
32 mi·38 min·IL 47
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto Walker Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Walker Road
13
Turn left onto Ashley Road
2.8 mi·3 min·Ashley Road
14
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126
0.5 mi·46 sec·East Schoolhouse Road
15
Turn left onto Minkler Road
3.4 mi·4 min·Minkler Road
16
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
126 ft·3 sec·Minkler Road
17
Continue on Minkler Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Minkler Road
18
Continue on Orchard Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Orchard Road
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto US 34
1.2 mi·2 min·US 34
Use the right lane.
20
Continue on IL 31
2.5 mi·4 min·IL 31
21
Continue on IL 31
3.4 mi·5 min·IL 31
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi·9 sec·West Galena Boulevard
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 58 minute drive time, leaving in the morning should allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. You'll only have one recommended stop, so consider making it midway or closer to Aurora for a break. The fuel cost is estimated at $21, which is quite economical for the distance. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest 74.6-mile stretch on I 55, as services might be spaced further apart. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.3 miles from Richmond, IL, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.6 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 30 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.3 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
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 Richmond, 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 Richmond, IL
This is one driving day of about 138.6 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Richmond, 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 I 55 for about 74.6 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.7 and 138.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.7 mi into trip|~19m in|US 136
At end of road, turn left onto US 136
Navigation decision point
8
25.7 mi into trip|~44m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North, I 74 West: Chicago, Peoria
8
89.3 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
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 220
Toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
5
125.9 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
Navigation decision point
6
138.5 mi into trip|~2h 57m in|West Galena Boulevard
Turn left onto West Galena Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.14 one way
$42.29 round trip
$3.88/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$23.29
$46.58
premium
$4.81
$26.22
$52.45
diesel
$5.40
$29.48
$58.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
EV Charging Along Route
30 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Bloomington, Illinois
Other
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Normal, Illinois
Other
1 DCFC
Rivian Waypoints
Normal, Illinois
Rivian
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Normal, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Normal, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Bloomington, Illinois
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Normal, Illinois
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Bloomington, Illinois
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Other: 11
ChargePoint: 9
Tesla: 3
Rivian: 2
Tesla Destination: 2
Electrify America: 1
EV Connect: 1
Shell Recharge: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.6
0
$14.55
$6.65
Efficient EV
34.7
0
$12.13
$5.54
EV Truck/SUV
55.4
0
$19.40
$8.87
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 26, 2026
Origin
Richmond, IL
Morning
in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
11:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aurora, IL
Morning
in Aurora on Sunday
Local time
11:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Cloudy
E 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:59AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 4:55AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
61°F
Kempton, IL
69 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
7 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 58m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 88% of the 138.6 miles on faster roads like I 55. You'll experience a long stretch of 74.6 miles on I 55 before transitioning to IL 47 and US 136. Expect to encounter a higher density of exits and potential merging traffic as you approach your destination.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and IL 47. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.7 miles in near US 136.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 138.6 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 6.7 miles (US 136): Navigation decision point; at 25.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Richmond, IL and Aurora, IL, road signs point toward Peoria and Dwight.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 138.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.7 miles (US 136): Navigation decision point; at 25.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
