Origin
Aurora, IL
Late night in Aurora on Friday
Local time
2:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, IL to Pontiac, IL
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 33m
Distance
71.9 mi
116 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Pontiac, IL
Ernest Westphal
Trip Overview
The drive from Aurora, IL to Pontiac, IL covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IL 47, I 55, South Lake Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.1 miles on IL 47. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.9 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 71.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Aurora, IL to Pontiac, IL covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 33m, 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 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IL 47 is the longest continuous segment at about 22.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IL 31 / South Lake Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 71.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 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 17 key pointsThese 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.
6
48.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
6
68.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator
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 Pontiac, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Streator along the way.
Streator
67.8 mi in
|
~1h 26m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IL 47 | 22.1 mi | 25m |
| I 55 | 18.8 mi | 20m |
| South Lake Street | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| Minkler Road | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Ashley Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| North 1500 East Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Caton Farm Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Bridge Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
IL 47
— 22.1 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Pontiac, 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
22 mi
·
25 min
·
IL 47
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 55 South: Bloomington
15
Merge onto I 55
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 55
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
Toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator
17
Keep slight left at fork
111 ft
·
2 sec
Toward IL 23: Pontiac, Streator
18
Turn left onto IL 23
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1500 East Road
19
Turn right onto IL 23
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Old Route 66
20
Turn left onto IL 116
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Howard Street
21
Turn right onto North Main Street
313 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Main Street
22
Turn right onto West Madison Street
302 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Madison Street
23
Turn right onto North Mill Street
204 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Mill Street
24
Arrive at destination
North Mill Street
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.9 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.1 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 16 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.9 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pontiac, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Aurora, IL
This is one driving day of about 71.9 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Aurora, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IL 47 for about 22.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.9 mi from Aurora, IL · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.9 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Pontiac, IL
The final approach into Pontiac, 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
$11.24 one way
$22.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.34 | $24.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.84 | $27.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.87 | $31.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.07 | $4.60 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Pontiac, IL
Late night in Pontiac on Friday
Local time
2:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Central, IL
36 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
23 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 33m 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 Pontiac, IL covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IL 47, I 55, South Lake Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.9 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 $11.24 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 71.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 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.
On the drive from Aurora, IL to Pontiac, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Streator along the way.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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