This 115.2-mile drive from Aurora, Illinois, to Germantown Hills, Illinois, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 37 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 78% of the travel on major interstates like I-39 and I-80, complemented by IL-71. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, this trip offers an economical option for exploring within the Midwest. You'll find this drive to be efficient, making it a practical choice for a quick excursion or connecting two points in Illinois without extensive planning.
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
57.6 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Aurora is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois, located about 35 miles west of Chicago. It's at the very edge of Chicagoland and, situated on the Fox River, has many opportunities for urban, suburban, and rural recreation. Often overlooked, Aurora in fact has many surprisingly interesting attractions and a downtown unlike that of a typical suburb. It is probably best known for being the setting of the "Wayne's World" movies.
Expect a highway-centric experience for the majority of this 115.2-mile trip. With 78% of the route on major roads like I-39 and I-80, the pace is generally fast. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.4 miles on I-39, offering a chance to settle into a steady rhythm. While primarily interstate driving, the inclusion of IL-71 may introduce slightly different road conditions as you transition. Overall, the character leans towards efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways, allowing for consistent progress towards Germantown Hills.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 39 is the longest continuous segment at about 36.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and IL 71. 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.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 37m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 7.9 miles (IL 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These 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
7.9 mi into trip|~13m in|IL 71
Turn right onto IL 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
37.9 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
6
52.8 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 79A
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomin...
5
89.7 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward IL 116: Metamora, Flanagan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 116: Metamora, Flanagan
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Aurora, IL and Germantown Hills, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island, Bloomington and Flanagan.
Rock Island
37.9 mi in|~57m
Bloomington
52.8 mi in|~1h 13m
Flanagan
89.7 mi in|~1h 53m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 39
36.4 mi
39m
IL 71
30 mi
43m
I 80
14.5 mi
15m
State Route 116
8.3 mi
13m
County Road 1400 North
6.1 mi
10m
South Lake Street
5.9 mi
9m
County Road 1800 North
5.5 mi
9m
East Mount Vernon Street
2.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 36.4 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Germantown Hills, 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
Turn right onto IL 71
30 mi·43 min·IL 71
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 80 West: Moline, Rock Island
7
Merge onto I 80
15 mi·15 min·I 80
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 79AToward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
9
Merge onto I 39; US 51
36 mi·39 min·I 39; US 51
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward IL 116: Metamora, Flanagan
11
Turn right onto IL 116
5.5 mi·9 min·County Road 1800 North
12
Turn left onto IL 116; IL 117
1.3 mi·2 min·County Road 2100 E
13
Turn straight onto IL 116; IL 117
3.3 mi·5 min·County Road 1400 North
14
Continue on IL 116; IL 117
0.9 mi·1 min·East Husseman Street
15
Continue on IL 116; IL 117
1.0 mi·1 min·West Front Street
16
Continue on IL 116; IL 117
2.8 mi·4 min·County Road 1400 North
17
Continue on IL 116
3.9 mi·5 min·State Route 116
18
Continue on IL 116
2.2 mi·4 min·East Mount Vernon Street
19
Continue on IL 116
4.3 mi·7 min·State Route 116
20
Arrive at destination
IL 116
Trip Plan
For this 2 hour and 37 minute drive, starting in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. With only one recommended stop implied by the data, you can plan your breaks strategically. The fuel cost is estimated at a reasonable $18, so ensure your tank is full before departing Aurora to minimize any need for detours. Given the relatively short distance and high highway share, you won't need to split this drive. A specific tip for this route: pay attention to the transition onto IL-71, as it represents a slight shift in the driving environment from the main interstates.
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 57.6 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.4 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 25 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.6 miles or 1h 19m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Germantown Hills, 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 115.2 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 39 for about 36.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.6 mi from Aurora, IL
· 1h 19m into the drive
The midpoint is around 57.6 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Germantown Hills, IL
The final approach into Germantown Hills, 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 Germantown Hills, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
La Mexicana Restaurant & Grocery Store
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ottawa, Illinois
Around the midpoint, short detour
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 41.1
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.10 one way
$34.21 round trip
$3.77/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.25
$19.29
$38.58
premium
$4.65
$21.11
$42.22
diesel
$5.30
$24.06
$48.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.3 kg one way.
EV Charging Along Route
1 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Swtch Charging Station
East Peoria, Illinois
Other
1 DCFC
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.6
0
$12.10
$5.53
Efficient EV
28.8
0
$10.08
$4.61
EV Truck/SUV
46.1
0
$16.13
$7.37
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Aurora, IL
Evening
in Aurora on Friday
Local time
6:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Germantown Hills, IL
Evening
in Germantown Hills on Friday
Local time
6:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Serena, IL
58 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
18 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 37m 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 Germantown Hills, IL covers 115.2 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 39, IL 71, I 80. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.6 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 $17.10 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 37m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 31 / South Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (IL 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Aurora, IL and Germantown Hills, IL, road signs point toward Rock Island, Bloomington and Flanagan.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
