Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
6h 12m
Distance
294.1 mi
473 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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
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 I 55, US 51, North Walnut Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.4 miles on I 55. 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 2h 57m into the drive .
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 (53%). Straightforward navigation.
The drive from Aurora, IL to Du Quoin, IL covers 294.1 miles and takes about 6h 12m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
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 21 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto IL 31 / South Lake Street
Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74; US 51 toward I 74 East, US 51 South, US 55 Business North: Indianapolis, Decatur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 51 toward US 51 South, US 51 Business North: Decatur, Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Aurora, IL and Du Quoin, IL, road signs point toward Decatur and Bloomington.
Decatur
Bloomington
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 62.4 mi | 1h 6m |
| US 51 | 25.8 mi | 38m |
| North Walnut Street | 23.2 mi | 29m |
| IL 47 | 22.1 mi | 25m |
| South Business Route 51 | 19.6 mi | 23m |
| 300 East Road | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| North 1450 East Road | 14.7 mi | 17m |
| United States Highway 51 | 13.4 mi | 15m |
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Du Quoin, IL.
Start on West Galena Boulevard
Turn right onto IL 31
Continue on US 34
Turn left onto Orchard Road
Continue on Minkler Road
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
Continue on Minkler Road
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126
Turn left onto Ashley Road
Turn right onto Caton Farm Road
Turn left
Continue on North Bridge Street
Continue on IL 47
Take the exit
Merge onto I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 74; US 51
Take the exit onto US 51
Continue on US 51
Continue on US 51
Turn straight onto US 51 Business
Take the ramp onto US 51 Business
Continue on US 51
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
Continue on US 51; IL 16
Turn left onto US 51; IL 16
Turn right onto US 51; IL 16
Turn left onto US 51; IL 16
Turn straight onto US 51
Continue on US 51
Continue on US 51
Continue on US 51
Continue on US 51
Turn left onto US 40; US 51; IL 185
Turn right
Continue on US 51
Continue on US 51
Continue on US 50; US 51
Continue on US 50; US 51
Continue on US 50; US 51
Continue on US 51
Continue on US 51
Continue on US 51
Continue on US 51
Continue on US 51
Continue on US 51; IL 15
Turn left onto US 51
Turn left onto US 51
Turn left onto South Washington Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.1 miles or 2h 57m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Du Quoin, IL than in the middle of the route.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 147.1 mi from Aurora, IL · 2h 57m 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.
A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 147.1 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 62.4 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$45.98 one way
$91.96 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Aurora on Friday
Local time
2:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Du Quoin on Friday
Local time
2:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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