Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Aurora, IL to Alton, IL

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

5h 3m

Distance

259.2 mi

417 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 50m ★
6 AM
5h 3m
8 AM
5h 30m
10 AM
5h 13m
12 PM
5h 10m
3 PM
5h 14m
5 PM
5h 29m
8 PM
4h 55m

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

Aurora, IL

Wikimedia Commons

city in Madison County, Illinois, United States

Alton, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 259.2-mile drive from Aurora, IL, to Alton, IL, is achievable in about 5 hours and 3 minutes, making it a solid day trip. You'll be spending a significant portion of your journey on the interstate, with 86% of the route on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $41. Given its manageable duration and focus on major roads, it's a straightforward journey through the Midwest without the need for an overnight stop. Plan for a single, efficient drive to reach your destination.

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

129.6 miles from Aurora, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 259.2-mile trip, with 86% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 189.8 miles primarily on I-55. The road primarily consists of interstate driving, offering a consistent pace. While the bulk is highway, the inclusion of IL 47 and State Route 140 suggests potential for brief transitions to more local or state road conditions as you approach Alton. Overall, it's a route designed for steady progress.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 189.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 0.1 miles in near IL 31 / South Lake Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 259.2 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 0.1 miles (IL 31 / South Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | IL 31 / South Lake Street

Turn right onto IL 31 / South Lake Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
12.2 mi into trip | ~20m in | IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road

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

Navigation decision point

5
18 mi into trip | ~28m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
48.6 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in

Take the exit toward I 55 South: Bloomington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
8
111.4 mi into trip | ~2h 12m in | I 55

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

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 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Aurora, IL and Alton, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Greenville.

Springfield

111.4 mi in | ~2h 12m | via I 55

Greenville

238.8 mi in | ~4h 30m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 189.8 mi 3h 24m
IL 47 22.1 mi 25m
State Route 140 9.6 mi 13m
South Lake Street 5.9 mi 9m
Minkler Road 4.3 mi 6m
College Avenue 3.9 mi 6m
Ashley Road 3.8 mi 5m
East Bethalto Drive 1.8 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 189.8 mi, about 3h 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Galena Boulevard

0.1 mi · 15 sec · West Galena Boulevard
2

Turn right onto IL 31

5.9 mi · 9 min · South Lake Street
Use the right lane.
3

Continue on US 34

1.2 mi · 2 min · US 34
4

Turn left onto Orchard Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Orchard Road
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on Minkler Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Minkler Road
6

Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road

128 ft · 3 sec · Minkler Road
7

Continue on Minkler Road

3.4 mi · 5 min · Minkler Road
8

At end of road, turn right onto IL 126

0.5 mi · 47 sec · East Schoolhouse Road
9

Turn left onto Ashley Road

3.8 mi · 5 min · Ashley Road
10

Turn right onto Caton Farm Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Caton Farm Road
11

Turn left

7.2 mi · 9 min
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on North Bridge Street

1.3 mi · 1 min · North Bridge Street
13

Continue on IL 47

22 mi · 25 min · IL 47
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
15

Merge onto I 55

62 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto I 55

65 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork onto I 55

63 mi · 1 hr 7 min · I 55
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
18

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward IL 140: Alton, Greenville
19

Turn right onto IL 140

0.7 mi · 1 min · East State Street
20

Continue on IL 140

9.6 mi · 13 min · State Route 140
21

Continue on IL 140

1.8 mi · 3 min · East Bethalto Drive
22

Continue on IL 111; IL 140

1.4 mi · 2 min · East MacArthur Drive
23

Continue on IL 111; IL 140

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Macarthur Drive
24

Continue on IL 111; IL 140

3.6 mi · 6 min · College Avenue
25

Enter roundabout onto College Avenue

397 ft · 7 sec · College Avenue
26

Continue on College Avenue

0.3 mi · 27 sec · College Avenue
27

Turn left onto US 67

0.9 mi · 1 min · Martin Luther King Drive
28

Continue on US 67

0.4 mi · 36 sec · Piasa Street
29

Turn left onto West 3rd Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · West 3rd Street
30

Turn right onto Alby Street

118 ft · 5 sec · Alby Street
31

Arrive at destination

Alby Street

Trip Plan

For this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Aurora, IL, to maximize your daylight and minimize traffic. With the longest stretch being nearly 190 miles on I-55, plan for one primary fuel and rest stop midway. The fuel cost is estimated at $41, so be sure to budget accordingly. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but breaking up the 189.8-mile segment on I-55 is advisable for comfort. Keep an eye on road conditions, especially as you transition from major interstates to state routes.

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 129.6 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 189.8 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 80 miles or 1h 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 129.6 miles or 2h 32m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alton, IL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Aurora, 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 Aurora, IL

This is one driving day of about 259.2 miles and 5h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Aurora, 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 189.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 129.6 mi from Aurora, IL · 2h 32m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bloomington, IL

130 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

Normal, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bloomington, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.6 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 189.8 miles.

Arriving in Alton, IL

The final approach into Alton, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Alton, IL.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument

National Monument

In August 1908, a large White mob attacked the Black community in Springfield, Illinois. Rioters destroyed homes and businesses and lynched two men. The event led to the founding of the National Assoc...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 169.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$40.52 one way

$81.05 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 91 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $44.49 $88.99
premium $4.89 $49.88 $99.76
diesel $5.61 $57.23 $114.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$41

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 77.8 0 $27.22 $12.44
Efficient EV 64.8 0 $22.68 $10.37
EV Truck/SUV 103.7 1 $36.29 $16.59

Gas CO2

91 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Aurora, IL

Afternoon in Aurora on Tuesday

Local time

3:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 15 mph 37% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 14 at 12:19PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:55AM CDT until April 20 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Alton, IL

Afternoon in Alton on Tuesday

Local time

3:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

53°F

Bloomington, IL

130 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

25 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

5h 3m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Aurora, IL to Alton, IL covers 259.2 miles and takes about 5h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, IL 47, State Route 140. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 129.6 miles from Aurora, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 259.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 31 / South Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Between Aurora, IL and Alton, IL, road signs point toward Springfield and Greenville.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Alton, IL

Waukegan, IL 316 mi · 6h 7m Chicago, IL 283.5 mi · 5h 28m Quincy, IL 115.2 mi · 2h 22m Decatur, IL 107.3 mi · 2h 24m

More from Aurora, IL

Crestwood, IL 331 mi · 6h 32m Goreville, IL 330.8 mi · 6h 26m Sleepy Hollow, IL 329.8 mi · 6h 28m De Soto, IL 328 mi · 6h 29m Cambria, IL 323.5 mi · 6h 22m Crainville, IL 323.3 mi · 6h 20m

More trips to Alton, IL

Waukegan, IL 315.9 mi Palatine, IL 289.9 mi Chicago, IL 283.9 mi Cicero, IL 279 mi Joliet, IL 248.7 mi Quincy, IL 132.4 mi

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.

Explore maps for Aurora, IL or Alton, IL on MapSof.net.