Paxton Family Restaurant
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Paxton, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+12173792777
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
4h 38m
Distance
217.9 mi
351 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
7 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Plainfield, IL
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Aurora, IL to Plainfield, IL covers 217.9 miles and takes about 4h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, I 55, Route 130 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 117.7 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.07 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
109 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 217.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 4h 38m highway drive covering 217.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and I 55. The longest continuous stretch is about 117.7 miles on I 57.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 55. You will hit about 22 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in near US 30 / 143rd Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 217.9 miles you will encounter 22 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 11.8 miles (US 30 / 143rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (US 30; IL 59 / North Division Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 30 / 143rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto US 30; IL 59 / North Division Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward IL 16 East: Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 117.7 mi | 2h 6m |
| I 55 | 15.8 mi | 18m |
| Route 130 | 10 mi | 14m |
| County Road North 303 West | 7.8 mi | 13m |
| Lincoln Highway | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| Illinois Route 16 | 6 mi | 8m |
| North 1250th Street | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| North Haughton Highway | 4.4 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Plainfield, IL.
Start on West Galena Boulevard
Turn left onto IL 25
Turn right onto East New York Street
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto North Ohio Street
Turn left onto East Galena Boulevard
Continue on Hill Avenue
Turn straight onto US 30
Turn left onto US 30
Turn right onto US 30; IL 59
Turn left onto US 30
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 55
Take the exit
Turn left onto CH 44
Continue on CH 44
Continue on CH 44
At end of road, turn right onto IL 53
Turn left onto CH 25
Turn right onto CH 7
Continue on Old Chicago Road
At end of road, turn left onto IL 102
Turn right onto CH 20
Turn left onto IL 113
Continue on IL 113
Continue on South Wall Street
Continue on West Water Street
Continue on US 45; US 52
Turn right onto US 45; US 52
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 57
Take the exit
Turn straight onto IL 16
Continue on IL 16
Continue on IL 16
Turn right onto IL 130
Continue on IL 130
Continue on IL 130
Continue on IL 130
Continue on IL 130
Continue on IL 130
Continue on IL 130
Continue on IL 130
Continue on IL 130
Continue on IL 130
Turn left onto North Street
Turn left onto North 1280th Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 48 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109 miles or 2h 25m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plainfield, IL than in the middle of the route.
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 217.9 miles and 4h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 109 mi from Aurora, IL · 2h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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.
A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 109 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 117.7 miles.
The final approach into Plainfield, 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 Plainfield, IL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
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Paxton, Illinois
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+12173792777
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Paxton, Illinois
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Paxton, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+12173792777
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Paxton, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
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Around the midpoint, right off the route
Paxton, Illinois
Hours: 10 am–8 pm
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Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
North Aurora, Illinois
Hours: 11 am–1 pm
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Rantoul, Illinois
Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm
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Hours: 11 am–10 pm
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Rantoul, Illinois
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
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Bradley, Illinois
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
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Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
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Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Savoy, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18668167584
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Champaign, Illinois
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Champaign, Illinois
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Regular Gas
$34.07 one way
$68.13 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.40 | $74.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.93 | $83.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.11 | $96.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
7 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
Champaign, Illinois
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Savoy, Illinois
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Champaign, Illinois
1 DCFC
Hampton Inn Charging Station
Champaign, Illinois
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Champaign, Illinois
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Champaign, Illinois
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Champaign, Illinois
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.4 | 0 | $22.88 | $10.46 |
| Efficient EV | 54.5 | 0 | $19.07 | $8.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.2 | 1 | $30.51 | $13.95 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Aurora on Friday
Local time
12:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Plainfield on Friday
Local time
12:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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