Trip from Aurora, IL to Near South Side, IL

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

Distance

42.8 mi

69 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min

4 AM

0h 55m ★

6 AM

1h 0m

8 AM

1h 10m

10 AM

1h 3m

12 PM

1h 2m

3 PM

1h 4m

5 PM

1h 9m

8 PM

0h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city on tripoints of DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties in Illinois, United States

Aurora, IL

Wikimedia Commons

Near South Side, IL

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Trip Overview

The drive from Aurora, IL to Near South Side, IL covers 42.8 miles and takes about 1h 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, North Lake Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.69 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 42.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Aurora, IL to Near South Side, IL covers 42.8 miles and takes about 1h, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

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?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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...

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

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.

40.2 mi into trip | ~53m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana

41.1 mi into trip | ~55m in

Take the exit toward 18th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 52C Toward 18th Street

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 Near South Side, 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	13.2 mi	18m
North Lake Street	2.2 mi	4m
West 18th Street	0.9 mi	2m
Dan Ryan Expressway	0.8 mi	1m
South Lincolnway Street	0.4 mi	<1m
East 18th Street	0.2 mi	<1m
South Michigan Avenue	0.2 mi	<1m

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 Near South Side, IL.

Start on West Galena Boulevard

0.1 mi · 15 sec · West Galena Boulevard

Turn left onto IL 31

2.2 mi · 4 min · North Lake Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on South Lincolnway Street

0.4 mi · 39 sec · South Lincolnway Street

Take the ramp

387 ft · 9 sec

Toward I 88 West Toll, IL 56 West Toll: Chicago, Dekalb-Iowa Use the left lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Toward I 88 East: Chicago Use the slight right lane.

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 21 sec · this road

Toward I 88 East: Chicago

Merge onto I 88; IL 110

18 mi · 22 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Merge onto I 290; IL 110

13 mi · 18 min · Eisenhower Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec

Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana, Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Toward I 90 East, I 94 East: Indiana

Merge onto I 90; I 94

0.8 mi · 1 min · Dan Ryan Expressway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Exit 52C Toward 18th Street Use the slight right lane.

Turn slight left onto South Union Avenue

208 ft · 12 sec · South Union Avenue

Turn left onto West 18th Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · West 18th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on East 18th Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · East 18th Street

Turn right onto South Michigan Avenue

0.2 mi · 21 sec · South Michigan Avenue

Turn right onto East Cullerton Street

228 ft · 12 sec · East Cullerton Street

Turn right

445 ft · 32 sec

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 21.4 mi from Aurora, IL · 28m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Elmhurst, IL

21 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

Chicago, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oakbrook Terrace, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Near South Side, IL

The final approach into Near South Side, 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

$6.69 one way

$13.38 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$7.35	$14.69
premium	$4.89	$8.24	$16.47
diesel	$5.61	$9.45	$18.90

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

Tolls

Total

Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	12.8	$4.49	$2.05
Efficient EV	10.7	$3.74	$1.71
EV Truck/SUV	17.1	$5.99	$2.74

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Aurora, IL

Late night in Aurora on Friday

Local time

12:40 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

WNW 10 to 15 mph 36% chance Live 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

Near South Side, IL

Late night in Near South Side on Friday

Local time

12:40 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Elmhurst, IL

21 mi in

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

9 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 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 Near South Side, IL covers 42.8 miles and takes about 1h 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, North Lake Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 21.4 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 $6.69 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.

On the drive from Aurora, IL to Near South Side, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Dekalb-Iowa along the way.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.

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