Origin
Aurora, IL
Evening in Aurora on Wednesday
Local time
6:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, IL to Empire, IL
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 36m
Distance
122.6 mi
197 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 26m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 44m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Empire, IL
Claudia Solano
Trip Overview
The drive from Aurora, IL to Empire, IL covers 122.6 miles and takes about 2h 36m 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 $19.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
61.3 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 36m drive with frequent turns across 122.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Aurora, IL to Empire, IL is easy. At 2h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, IL to Empire, 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 Empire, 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
48 mi
·
51 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward Towanda
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Towanda
17
Turn straight onto North 1900 East Road
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
North 1900 East Road
18
Continue on North Jefferson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Jefferson Street
19
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Hely Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Hely Street
20
Continue on Towanda-Barnes Road
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Towanda-Barnes Road
21
Continue on North Towanda Barnes Road
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
North Towanda Barnes Road
22
Turn left
2.0 mi
·
2 min
23
Turn right onto North Seminary Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Seminary Street
24
Continue on East 700 North Road
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
East 700 North Road
25
Turn left onto I 74 East: Champaign
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
I 74 East: Champaign
26
Merge slight left
9.0 mi
·
9 min
27
Take the exit slight right toward US 136: Rantoul, Heyworth
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 136: Rantoul, Heyworth
28
Turn left onto East 200 North Road
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
East 200 North Road
29
Turn right onto East 150 North Road
1.1 mi
·
4 min
·
East 150 North Road
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61.3 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 1h 18m 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 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.3 miles or 1h 18m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Empire, 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 122.6 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 61.3 mi from Aurora, IL · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.3 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Empire, IL
The final approach into Empire, 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 Empire, 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
$19.17 one way
$38.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.04 | $42.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.59 | $47.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.07 | $54.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.87 | $5.88 |
| Efficient EV | 30.7 | 0 | $10.73 | $4.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49 | 0 | $17.16 | $7.85 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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
Empire, IL
Evening in Empire on Wednesday
Local time
6:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°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
2 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 36m 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 Empire, IL covers 122.6 miles and takes about 2h 36m 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 61.3 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 $19.17 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Aurora, IL to Empire, IL is easy. At 2h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, IL to Empire, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Aurora, IL to Empire, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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