Origin
Aurora, IL
Afternoon in Aurora on Thursday
Local time
3:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, IL to Du Quoin, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 12m
Distance
294.1 mi
473 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 0m
★
6 AM
6h 13m
8 AM
6h 38m
10 AM
6h 22m
12 PM
6h 19m
3 PM
6h 23m
5 PM
6h 37m
8 PM
6h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Du Quoin, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Aurora, IL to Du Quoin, IL covers 294.1 miles and takes about 6h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Lake Street, Orchard Road, Minkler Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.98 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
147.1 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 6m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 12m. Total distance: 294.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 12m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 12m drive with frequent turns across 294.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 50 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Lake Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 12m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, IL to Du Quoin, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Lake Street | — | — |
| Orchard Road | — | — |
| Minkler Road | — | — |
| East Schoolhouse Road | — | — |
| Ashley Road | — | — |
| Caton Farm Road | — | — |
| North Bridge Street | — | — |
| I 55 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Lake Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Du Quoin, IL.
1
Start on West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
2
Turn right onto South Lake Street
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
South Lake Street
3
Continue straight
1.2 mi
·
2 min
4
Turn left onto Orchard Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Orchard Road
5
Continue on Minkler Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Minkler Road
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Minkler Road
128 ft
·
4 sec
·
Minkler Road
7
Exit the roundabout onto Minkler Road
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Minkler Road
8
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Schoolhouse Road
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
12
Continue on North Bridge Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Bridge Street
13
Continue straight
22 mi
·
25 min
14
Take the exit right toward I 55 South: Bloomington
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 55 South: Bloomington
15
Merge slight left
62 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
16
Keep slight left to continue on I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Decatur, Bloomington
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Decatur, Bloomington
18
Continue on North 1450 East Road
15 mi
·
17 min
·
North 1450 East Road
19
Continue on North Walnut Street
23 mi
·
29 min
·
North Walnut Street
20
Turn straight
9.9 mi
·
15 min
21
Take the ramp straight toward South Business Route 51
20 mi
·
23 min
·
South Business Route 51
22
Continue on North 2600 East Rd
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
North 2600 East Rd
23
Turn right onto North 2600 East Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2600 East Road
24
Continue on Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jackson Street
25
Turn left onto Cedar Street
466 ft
·
8 sec
·
Cedar Street
26
Turn right onto East 1st Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
27
Turn left onto South Poplar Street
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Poplar Street
28
Turn straight onto Fair Avenue
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Fair Avenue
29
Continue on County Road 2400 E
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 2400 E
30
Continue on 300 East Road
15 mi
·
17 min
·
300 East Road
31
Continue on County Road 875 East
11 mi
·
12 min
·
County Road 875 East
32
Continue on North Kennedy Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kennedy Boulevard
33
Turn left onto West Gallatin Street
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Gallatin Street
34
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
35
Continue on United States Highway 51
13 mi
·
15 min
·
United States Highway 51
36
Continue on 250E
10 mi
·
11 min
·
250E
37
Continue on North Mine Street
443 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Mine Street
38
Continue on N Mine St
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
N Mine St
39
Continue on North Mine Street
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
North Mine Street
40
Continue on County Road 180 E
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
County Road 180 E
41
Continue on North Commercial Street
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Commercial Street
42
Continue on North Poplar Street
12 mi
·
18 min
·
North Poplar Street
43
Continue on N Locust St
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
N Locust St
44
Continue on South Locust Street
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
South Locust Street
45
Continue straight
2.8 mi
·
4 min
46
Turn left
23 mi
·
33 min
47
Turn left onto West Poplar Street
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
West Poplar Street
48
Turn left onto South Washington Street
479 ft
·
23 sec
·
South Washington Street
49
Turn right onto East Main Street
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Main Street
50
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 147.1 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
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 65 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.1 miles or 3h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Du Quoin, 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 294.1 miles and 6h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 147.1 mi from Aurora, IL · 3h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
147 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 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 147.1 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Du Quoin, IL
The final approach into Du Quoin, 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 Du Quoin, 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
$45.98 one way
$91.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
103 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $50.48 | $100.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $56.60 | $113.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.93 | $129.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.2 | 1 | $30.88 | $14.12 |
| Efficient EV | 73.5 | 0 | $25.73 | $11.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117.6 | 1 | $41.17 | $18.82 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Du Quoin, IL
Afternoon in Du Quoin on Thursday
Local time
3:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
24 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
6h 12m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Du Quoin, IL covers 294.1 miles and takes about 6h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Lake Street, Orchard Road, Minkler Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 147.1 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 $45.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 12m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, IL to Du Quoin, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Aurora, IL to Du Quoin, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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