The drive from Aurora, IL to Lincoln Square, IL covers 45.4 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Eisenhower Expressway, South Pulaski Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 45.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 6m drive with frequent turns across 45.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 23.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.4 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 88 West Toll, IL 56 West Toll: Chicago, Dekalb-Iowa
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 88 West Toll, IL 56 West Toll: Chicago...
8
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 East: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
6
20.9 mi into trip|~28m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
34.9 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 24B
Toward IL 50: Cicero Avenue
7
39.7 mi into trip|~55m in|West Belden Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Aurora, IL to Lincoln Square, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Dekalb-Iowa along the way.
Dekalb-Iowa
2.6 mi in|~4m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
23.8 mi
29m
Eisenhower Expressway
8 mi
10m
South Pulaski Road
2.9 mi
5m
North Lake Street
2.2 mi
4m
North Pulaski Road
2.1 mi
4m
West Irving Park Road
2 mi
3m
North Western Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
West Madison Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 23.8 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Lincoln Square, IL.
1
Start on West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi·15 sec·West Galena Boulevard
2
Turn left onto IL 31
2.2 mi·4 min·North Lake Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on South Lincolnway Street
0.4 mi·39 sec·South Lincolnway Street
4
Take the ramp
387 ft·9 sec
Toward I 88 West Toll, IL 56 West Toll: Chicago, Dekalb-IowaUse the left lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 88 East: ChicagoUse the slight right lane.
6
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·21 sec·this road
Toward I 88 East: Chicago
7
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
18 mi·22 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
6.0 mi·7 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
8.0 mi·10 min·Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 24BToward IL 50: Cicero AvenueUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto West Lexington Street
302 ft·7 sec·West Lexington Street
12
Turn left onto IL 50
0.7 mi·1 min·South Cicero Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto West Madison Street
1.0 mi·2 min·West Madison Street
14
Turn left onto South Pulaski Road
2.9 mi·5 min·South Pulaski Road
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn right onto West Belden Avenue
170 ft·10 sec·West Belden Avenue
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto North Pulaski Road
2.1 mi·4 min·North Pulaski Road
17
Turn right onto IL 19
2.0 mi·3 min·West Irving Park Road
18
Turn left onto North Western Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·North Western Avenue
19
Turn left onto US 41
19 ft·0 sec·West Foster Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
US 41
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.7 mi from Aurora, IL
· 30m into the drive
The midpoint is around 22.7 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lincoln Square, IL
The final approach into Lincoln Square, IL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.10 one way
$14.20 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg16 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$7.79
$15.59
premium
$4.89
$8.74
$17.47
diesel
$5.61
$10.02
$20.05
Estimated Tolls: $1.43
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(23.8 mi)$1.43
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
13.6
0
$4.77
$2.18
Efficient EV
11.4
0
$3.97
$1.82
EV Truck/SUV
18.2
0
$6.36
$2.91
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Aurora, IL
Late night
in Aurora on Friday
Local time
3:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 10 to 15 mph36% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:33PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 16 at 12:29PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
Lincoln Square, IL
Late night
in Lincoln Square on Friday
Local time
3:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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 6m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Lincoln Square, IL covers 45.4 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Eisenhower Expressway, South Pulaski Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.7 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 $7.10 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.4 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Aurora, IL to Lincoln Square, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Dekalb-Iowa along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
