Origin
Aurora, IL
Late night in Aurora on Friday
Local time
2:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, IL to Atkinson, IL
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
2h 11m
Distance
105.1 mi
169 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 2m
★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Atkinson, IL
Max W
Trip Overview
This 105.1-mile drive from Aurora, Illinois to Atkinson, Illinois is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 11 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 92% of the journey on major roads like I-80 and IL-71. You can expect a fuel cost of around $16 for this relatively short distance. Given its brevity and the predominantly highway nature, this trip is ideal for a quick getaway or a straightforward commute between two points within the Midwest. There are no designated stops included in this plan, suggesting a direct approach to your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.5 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 105.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 105.1-mile journey. With 92% of the route utilizing major roadways, you'll spend most of your time on I-80 and IL-71. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 65.8 miles, allowing for consistent travel speeds. This profile suggests a drive characterized by efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. The transition from South Lake Street to the interstate system marks the beginning of this efficient, highway-centric path.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 65.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and IL 71. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 31 / South Lake Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 11m 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: at 0.1 miles (IL 31 / South Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (IL 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese 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
7.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
IL 71
Turn right onto IL 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
37.9 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
5
38.2 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
104 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
Take the exit toward Atkinson, Galva
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Atkinson, Galva
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 Aurora, IL to Atkinson, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Island along the way.
Rock Island
37.9 mi in
|
~57m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 65.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| IL 71 | 30 mi | 43m |
| South Lake Street | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| US 34 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| South State Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Orchard Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Galena Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 65.8 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Atkinson, 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
Turn right onto IL 71
30 mi
·
43 min
·
IL 71
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
7
Merge onto I 80
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward Atkinson, Galva
9
Turn right onto South State Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South State Street
10
Turn right onto East Main Street
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
11
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 11-minute drive, you have considerable flexibility. Leaving Aurora, IL in the morning will allow you to reach Atkinson, IL with plenty of daylight remaining. With no specific stops planned and a manageable 105.1 miles, you can easily complete this trip in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is $16, it's always wise to refuel before embarking on longer stretches, especially the 65.8-mile segment on I-80. Consider an early departure to maximize your time at your destination.
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 52.5 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.8 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 23 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.5 miles or 1h 13m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atkinson, 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 105.1 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Aurora, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 65.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.5 mi from Aurora, IL · 1h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.5 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.8 miles.
Arriving in Atkinson, IL
The final approach into Atkinson, 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 Atkinson, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.43 one way
$32.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.04 | $36.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.23 | $40.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.20 | $46.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.04 | $5.04 |
| Efficient EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.20 | $4.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42 | 0 | $14.71 | $6.73 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Atkinson, IL
Late night in Atkinson on Friday
Local time
2:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Serena, IL
53 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
20 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 11m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Aurora, IL to Atkinson, IL covers 105.1 miles and takes about 2h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, IL 71, South Lake Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.5 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 $16.43 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 2h 11m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 31 / South Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (IL 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Aurora, IL to Atkinson, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Island along the way.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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