Origin
Aurora, IL
Night in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, IL to Gardner, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
47.5 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Gardner, IL
Stéphane Tendon
Trip Overview
The drive from Aurora, IL to Gardner, IL covers 47.5 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Broadway, East New York Street, North Ohio Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.43 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
23.7 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 5m drive with frequent turns across 47.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Broadway 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 Gardner, IL is easy. At 1h 5m 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 Gardner, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East New York Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Ohio Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Galena Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hill Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lincoln Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 143rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Division Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Broadway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Gardner, IL.
1
Start on West Galena Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
2
Turn left onto North Broadway
459 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Broadway
3
Turn right onto East New York Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East New York Street
4
Turn slight right
174 ft
·
8 sec
5
Turn slight right onto North Ohio Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
North Ohio Street
6
Turn left onto East Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East Galena Boulevard
7
Continue on Hill Avenue
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Hill Avenue
8
Turn straight onto Lincoln Highway
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Lincoln Highway
9
Turn left onto 143rd Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
143rd Street
10
Turn right onto North Division Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Division Street
11
Turn left onto North Joliet Road
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Joliet Road
12
Take the ramp right toward I 55 South: Bloomington
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 55 South: Bloomington
13
Merge slight left
30 mi
·
33 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward IL 53: Gardner
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IL 53: Gardner
15
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
16
Continue on West Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
17
Turn right onto South Grundy Street
112 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Grundy Street
18
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 23.7 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 32m 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 47.5 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.7 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gardner, 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 47.5 miles and 1h 5m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.7 mi from Aurora, IL · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 47.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gardner, IL
The final approach into Gardner, 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 Gardner, 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
$7.43 one way
$14.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.15 | $16.31 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.14 | $18.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.49 | $20.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $4.99 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.65 | $3.04 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Gardner, IL
Night in Gardner on Tuesday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
6 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
1h 5m 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 Gardner, IL covers 47.5 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Broadway, East New York Street, North Ohio Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.7 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 $7.43 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.
The drive from Aurora, IL to Gardner, IL is easy. At 1h 5m 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 Gardner, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Aurora, IL to Gardner, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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