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Trip from Aurora, IL to Arcola, IL

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

3h 30m

Distance

168.1 mi

271 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 18m ★
6 AM
3h 30m
8 AM
3h 55m
10 AM
3h 39m
12 PM
3h 37m
3 PM
3h 40m
5 PM
3h 54m
8 PM
3h 23m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city on tripoints of DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties in Illinois, United States

Aurora, IL

Wikimedia Commons

town in Illinois

Arcola, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 168.1-mile drive from Aurora, IL to Arcola, IL is a straightforward Midwest journey, easily manageable as a one-day trip. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 30 minutes on the road, with a fuel cost estimated at $26. The route is primarily highway-focused, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Illinois communities. You'll mainly use I-57 and I-55, with a brief stint on County Road North 303 West. Given its manageable length and focus on major roadways, this trip offers a practical transit experience rather than an extended scenic adventure.

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

84.1 miles from Aurora, IL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This drive leans heavily towards highway travel, with 73% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 103.5 miles on I-57, offering a consistent pace. The character is predominantly that of a highway-focused drive, designed for efficiency. While the majority of your time will be spent on these faster roads, the inclusion of County Road North 303 West introduces a brief change of pace, moving away from the interstate system before you reach your destination.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 103.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 55. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in near US 30 / 143rd Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 168.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 11.8 miles (US 30 / 143rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (US 30; IL 59 / North Division Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

5
11.8 mi into trip | ~19m in | US 30 / 143rd Street

Turn left onto US 30 / 143rd Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
12.8 mi into trip | ~21m in | US 30; IL 59 / North Division Street

Turn right onto US 30; IL 59 / North Division Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
16.2 mi into trip | ~29m in

Take the ramp toward I 55 South: Bloomington

Navigation decision point

Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
5
16.5 mi into trip | ~29m in | I 55

Merge onto I 55

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
166.8 mi into trip | ~3h 27m in

Take the exit toward IL 133: Arcola, Paris

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

Exit 203 Toward IL 133: Arcola, Paris

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 57 103.5 mi 1h 50m
I 55 15.8 mi 18m
County Road North 303 West 7.8 mi 13m
Lincoln Highway 7.4 mi 11m
Old Chicago Road 3.7 mi 5m
IL 102 3.6 mi 5m
West Peotone Road 3 mi 4m
South Chicago Road 2.5 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 57 — 103.5 mi, about 1h 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Galena Boulevard

0.4 mi · 52 sec · West Galena Boulevard
2

Turn left onto IL 25

458 ft · 13 sec · North Broadway
3

Turn right onto East New York Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · East New York Street
4

Turn slight right

175 ft · 8 sec
5

Turn slight right onto North Ohio Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · North Ohio Street
6

Turn left onto East Galena Boulevard

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East Galena Boulevard
7

Continue on Hill Avenue

2.5 mi · 4 min · Hill Avenue
Use the left lane.
8

Turn straight onto US 30

7.4 mi · 11 min · Lincoln Highway
Use the left lane.
9

Turn left onto US 30

1.0 mi · 1 min · 143rd Street
Use the left lane.
10

Turn right onto US 30; IL 59

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Division Street
Use the right lane.
11

Turn left onto US 30

2.2 mi · 4 min · North Joliet Road
Use the left lane.
12

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
13

Merge onto I 55

16 mi · 18 min · I 55
Use the right lane.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward North River Road
15

Turn left onto CH 44

0.3 mi · 31 sec · County Highway 44
16

Continue on CH 44

1.4 mi · 1 min · North River Road
17

Continue on CH 44

2.3 mi · 3 min · New River Road
18

At end of road, turn right onto IL 53

0.5 mi · 48 sec · South Chicago Road
19

Turn left onto CH 25

3.0 mi · 4 min · West Peotone Road
20

Turn right onto CH 7

2.0 mi · 2 min · South Chicago Road
21

Continue on Old Chicago Road

3.7 mi · 5 min · Old Chicago Road
22

At end of road, turn left onto IL 102

3.6 mi · 5 min · IL 102
23

Turn right onto CH 20

0.7 mi · 1 min · Warner Bridge Rd North 7000W Road
24

Turn left onto IL 113

7.8 mi · 13 min · County Road North 303 West
25

Continue on IL 113

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Wall Street
26

Continue on South Wall Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Wall Street
27

Continue on West Water Street

0.4 mi · 43 sec · West Water Street
28

Continue on US 45; US 52

0.5 mi · 49 sec · South East Avenue
29

Turn right onto US 45; US 52

1.8 mi · 2 min · South Schuyler Avenue
30

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 57 sec
Toward I-57 South: Champaign
31

Merge onto I 57

103 mi · 1 hr 50 min · I 57
32

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 30 sec
Exit 203 Toward IL 133: Arcola, Paris
33

Turn right onto IL 133

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Springfield Road
34

Turn right onto South Locust Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · South Locust Street
35

Arrive at destination

North Locust Street

Trip Plan

For this 3-hour and 30-minute drive, departing in the morning will allow you to arrive with ample time to explore Arcola. With the longest stretch being over 100 miles, plan for one fuel and rest stop to break up the journey. The estimated fuel cost of $26 is a good budget to keep in mind. Since this is a relatively short, one-day trip, you have flexibility with your departure time. Be aware that you'll be on I-57 for a substantial portion, so pay attention to interstate traffic patterns as you approach your destination.

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 84.1 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.5 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 54m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 84.1 miles or 1h 58m 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 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arcola, 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 168.1 miles and 3h 30m.

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 57 for about 103.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 84.1 mi from Aurora, IL · 1h 58m into the drive

city in Illinois, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Joliet, IL

84 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

Joliet, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Joliet, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 84.1 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 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.5 miles.

Arriving in Arcola, IL

The final approach into Arcola, 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 Arcola, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.28 one way

$52.56 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $28.85 $57.71
premium $4.89 $32.35 $64.70
diesel $5.61 $37.11 $74.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 50.4 0 $17.65 $8.07
Efficient EV 42 0 $14.71 $6.72
EV Truck/SUV 67.2 0 $23.53 $10.76

Gas CO2

59 kg

EV CO2

20 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Aurora, IL

Afternoon in Aurora on Tuesday

Local time

3:45 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

Arcola, IL

Afternoon in Arcola on Tuesday

Local time

3:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°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

27 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

3h 30m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Aurora, IL to Arcola, IL covers 168.1 miles and takes about 3h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, I 55, County Road North 303 West. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.1 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 $26.28 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 168.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 11.8 miles (US 30 / 143rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (US 30; IL 59 / North Division Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Aurora, IL to Arcola, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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