Origin
Aurora, IL
Evening in Aurora on Wednesday
Local time
7:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, IL to Savanna, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 31m
Distance
116 mi
187 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 21m
★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Savanna, IL
Hugo Sykes
Trip Overview
This 116-mile drive from Aurora, IL to Savanna, IL is a straightforward, single-day trip that can be completed in about 2 hours and 31 minutes. It's a convenient option for a quick getaway, with a modest estimated fuel cost of $18. The route primarily utilizes the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and then transitions to US 52 and IL 26, offering a mixed driving experience. Since it's a relatively short journey within the Midwest region, you won't need an overnight stay, allowing for a flexible schedule. This trip is ideal if you're looking for an easy drive without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
58 miles from Aurora, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Drive Character
You'll experience a mixed drive on this 116-mile route, with 44% of it on highways. The journey begins with a longer stretch of 62.1 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, providing a consistent pace. After this, the drive shifts to US 52 and IL 26, likely offering a change in scenery and road conditions as you move away from the main tollway. This progression means you'll transition from consistent highway speeds to potentially more varied local road driving as you get closer to Savanna.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 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 62.1 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 / North Lake Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 31m drive. You will face about 7 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 / North Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (IL 56): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 31 / North Lake Street
Turn left onto IL 31 / North Lake Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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
|
IL 56
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 56 toward I 88 West, IL 56 West: DeKalb-Iowa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 88 West, IL 56 West: DeKalb-Iowa
8
6.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
4
65.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward IL 26: Dixon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IL 26: Dixon
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 62.1 mi | 1h 6m |
| US 52 | 40.7 mi | 1h 2m |
| IL 26 | 9.3 mi | 14m |
| North Lake Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| IL 56 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Lincolnway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Galena Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 62.1 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and Savanna, 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-Iowa
Use the left lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 56
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 56
Toward I 88 West, IL 56 West: DeKalb-Iowa
Use the straight lane.
6
Merge onto I 88; IL 56; IL 110
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
59 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Toward I 88 Toll West, IL 47: DeKalb
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward IL 26: Dixon
9
Turn right onto IL 26
9.3 mi
·
14 min
·
IL 26
10
Continue on US 52; IL 26
37 mi
·
54 min
·
US 52; IL 26
11
Continue on US 52; IL 64
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
US 52; IL 64
12
Arrive at destination
US 52; IL 64; IL 84
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 31-minute drive, leaving Aurora in the morning is advisable to maximize your time in Savanna. With only one stop likely needed, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $18, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing. Watch for the transition off the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway onto US 52 and IL 26, as this is where the driving character changes. Planning to depart mid-morning on a weekday can help you avoid potential weekend traffic on the tollway.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58 miles from Aurora, IL, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.1 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 26 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58 miles or 1h 5m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Savanna, 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 116 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 62.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58 mi from Aurora, IL · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.1 miles.
Arriving in Savanna, IL
The final approach into Savanna, 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 Savanna, 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
$18.14 one way
$36.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.91 | $39.82 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.32 | $44.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.61 | $51.22 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.73
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(62.1 mi)
$3.73
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.18 | $5.57 |
| Efficient EV | 29 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.4 | 0 | $16.24 | $7.42 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Savanna, IL
Evening in Savanna on Wednesday
Local time
7:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Dixon, IL
58 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
15 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
2h 31m 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 Savanna, IL covers 116 miles and takes about 2h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, US 52, IL 26. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58 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 $18.14 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 31m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IL 31 / North Lake Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (IL 56): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Aurora, IL to Savanna, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Savanna, IL
More trips to Savanna, IL
Explore more options from Aurora, IL or browse trips ending in Savanna, IL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IL road trips.
Explore maps for Aurora, IL or Savanna, IL on MapSof.net.