Origin
Aurora, IL
Evening in Aurora on Sunday
Local time
5:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, IL to Bethalto, IL
Drive Time
4h 48m
Distance
250.7 mi
403 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 35m
★
6 AM
4h 49m
8 AM
5h 16m
10 AM
4h 58m
12 PM
4h 55m
3 PM
4h 59m
5 PM
5h 14m
8 PM
4h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, IL
Markku Soini
Bethalto, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
The drive from Aurora, IL to Bethalto, IL covers 250.7 miles and takes about 4h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, IL 47, State Route 140 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 189.8 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.08 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
125.3 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 48m highway drive covering 250.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and IL 47. The longest continuous stretch is about 189.8 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 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
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 250.7 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 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
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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Aurora, IL to Bethalto, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
Springfield
111.4 mi in
|
~2h 12m
|
via I 55
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 |
| Ashley Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Caton Farm Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Bridge Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 189.8 mi, about 3h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Bethalto, 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
Use the none lane.
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
Use the none lane.
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 none / 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 none / 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
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Bethalto Drive
22
Turn right onto South Prairie Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Prairie Street
23
Turn left onto West Sherman Street
8 ft
·
0 sec
·
West Sherman Street
24
Arrive at destination
West Sherman Street
Trip Plan
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 125.3 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 2h 28m 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 125.3 miles or 2h 28m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethalto, 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 250.7 miles and 4h 48m.
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 125.3 mi from Aurora, IL · 2h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.3 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 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 189.8 miles.
Arriving in Bethalto, IL
The final approach into Bethalto, 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 Bethalto, 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
$38.08 one way
$76.16 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $41.98 | $83.95 |
| premium | $4.80 | $47.33 | $94.65 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $55.70 | $111.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.2 | 0 | $26.32 | $12.03 |
| Efficient EV | 62.7 | 0 | $21.94 | $10.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.3 | 1 | $35.10 | $16.04 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Destination
Bethalto, IL
Evening in Bethalto on Sunday
Local time
5:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
78°F
Akron, IL
125 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
11 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
4h 48m 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 Bethalto, IL covers 250.7 miles and takes about 4h 48m 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 125.3 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 $38.08 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 250.7 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.
On the drive from Aurora, IL to Bethalto, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.
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