This 190.9-mile drive from Aurora, IL to Paris, IL is a solid option for a single-day road trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 24 minutes. The route primarily utilizes I-74, with segments on Georgetown Road and North 2700 East Road, offering a mixed driving profile. With a fuel cost estimated at $30, this Midwest to Midwest journey is quite budget-friendly. You'll find this drive to be straightforward and efficient, perfect for a quick getaway or a functional trip without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
95.4 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m 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 drive that's 36% highway, meaning a good portion of your time will be spent on I-74. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 41.9 miles on I-74, allowing for steady progress. This route offers a mixed drive experience, transitioning from interstate speeds to more local road segments. The character of the drive changes as you move, providing a varied feel behind the wheel.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 45 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 74 is the longest continuous segment at about 41.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 4h 24m drive. You will face about 16 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 12.2 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 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
12.2 mi into trip|~20m in|IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road
Navigation decision point
5
18 mi into trip|~28m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
114.1 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|I 74
Merge onto I 74
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
156.2 mi into trip|~3h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 74
41.9 mi
45m
Georgetown Road
29.6 mi
44m
North 2700 East Road
28.7 mi
44m
IL 47
23.7 mi
27m
North 390 East Road
10.8 mi
15m
County Road 400 East
7.7 mi
10m
South Lake Street
5.9 mi
9m
County Road 350 East
4.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 41.9 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Paris, 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
Continue on Minkler Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Minkler Road
6
Enter roundabout onto Minkler Road
128 ft·3 sec·Minkler Road
7
Continue on Minkler Road
3.4 mi·5 min·Minkler Road
8
At end of road, turn right onto IL 126
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
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on North Bridge Street
1.3 mi·1 min·North Bridge Street
13
Continue on IL 47
24 mi·27 min·IL 47
14
Turn left onto IL 47
1.3 mi·2 min·North Union Street
15
Continue on IL 47
22 mi·35 min·North 2700 East Road
16
Continue on IL 47
1.2 mi·2 min·North Center Street
17
Continue on IL 47
6.7 mi·9 min·North 2700 East Road
18
Continue on IL 47
0.7 mi·1 min·North 2750 East Road
19
Continue on IL 47
1.1 mi·1 min·North 2775 East Road
20
Continue on IL 47
0.4 mi·36 sec·North 2790 East Road
21
Continue on IL 47
0.4 mi·32 sec·North 385 East Road
22
Continue on IL 47
11 mi·15 min·North 390 East Road
23
Turn left onto IL 9; IL 47; IL 54
0.5 mi·1 min·West 1st Street
24
Turn right onto IL 47
0.4 mi·47 sec·South Sangamon Avenue
25
Continue on IL 47
383 ft·7 sec·North 450E Road
26
Continue on IL 47
3.5 mi·4 min·North 450 East Road
27
Continue on IL 47
2.1 mi·2 min·County Road 450 East
28
Continue on IL 47
7.5 mi·10 min·County Road 400 East
29
Continue on IL 47
4.5 mi·6 min·County Road 350 East
30
Continue on IL 47
0.2 mi·28 sec·County Road 400 East
31
Continue on IL 47
506 ft·12 sec·North Lombard Street
32
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 74 East: Champaign
33
Merge onto I 74
42 mi·45 min·I 74
Use the slight right lane.
34
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 150, IL 1
35
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward US 150 East, IL 1 South: Georgetown Road
36
Turn straight onto US 150; IL 1
14 mi·20 min·Georgetown Road
37
Continue on US 150; IL 1
1.9 mi·2 min·North State Street
38
Continue on US 150; IL 1
6.1 mi·9 min·Georgetown Road
39
Continue on US 150; IL 1
0.3 mi·28 sec·1575 E US 36
40
Continue on US 150; IL 1
10 mi·14 min·Georgetown Road
41
Continue on US 150; IL 1
1.4 mi·3 min·IL Route 1
42
Turn right onto US 150; IL 1
512 ft·8 sec·West Elliot Street
43
Turn left onto US 150; IL 1
1.0 mi·1 min·North Central Avenue
44
Turn left onto West Court Street
37 ft·1 sec·West Court Street
45
Arrive at destination
West Court Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 24-minute drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize your time at your destination or simply to enjoy daylight driving. With only one stop suggested, you have flexibility to take breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $30 for the 190.9 miles. A practical tip for this route: pay attention to the transition onto Georgetown Road, as it marks a significant shift from interstate to a more local feel.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 95.4 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.9 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 42 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.4 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paris, 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 190.9 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 74 for about 41.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95.4 mi from Aurora, IL
· 2h 17m into the drive
The midpoint is around 95.4 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Paris, IL
The final approach into Paris, 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 Paris, 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
$29.85 one way
$59.69 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.77
$65.54
premium
$4.89
$36.74
$73.47
diesel
$5.61
$42.15
$84.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.3
0
$20.04
$9.16
Efficient EV
47.7
0
$16.70
$7.64
EV Truck/SUV
76.4
0
$26.73
$12.22
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Morning
in Aurora on Saturday
Local time
6:53 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
Paris, IL
Morning
in Paris on Saturday
Local time
6:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
4h 24m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Paris, IL covers 190.9 miles and takes about 4h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 74, Georgetown Road, North 2700 East Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 95.4 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 $29.85 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 24m drive. You will face about 16 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 12.2 miles (IL 126 / East Schoolhouse Road): Navigation decision point; at 18 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Aurora, IL to Paris, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
