Origin
Aurora, IL
Morning in Aurora on Thursday
Local time
11:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, IL to University Park, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
49.5 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
University Park, IL
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
The drive from Aurora, IL to University Park, IL covers 49.5 miles and takes about 1h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Lake Street, South Lincolnway Street, I 88 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.74 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 49.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 7m drive with frequent turns across 49.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Lake Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Aurora, IL to University Park, IL is easy. At 1h 7m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, IL to University Park, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Lake Street | — | — |
| South Lincolnway Street | — | — |
| I 88 West | — | — |
| I 88 East | — | — |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | — | — |
| I 294 South | — | — |
| Tri-State Tollway | — | — |
| Mile-Long Bridge | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Lake Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, IL and University Park, IL.
1
Start on West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
2
Turn left onto North Lake Street
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Lake Street
3
Continue on South Lincolnway Street
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Lincolnway Street
4
Take the ramp left toward I 88 West Toll, IL 56 West Toll: Chicago, Dekalb-Iowa
387 ft
·
10 sec
·
I 88 West Toll, IL 56 West Toll: Chicago, Dekalb-Iowa
5
Keep slight right to continue on I 88 East: Chicago
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 88 East: Chicago
6
Continue on I 88 East: Chicago
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 88 East: Chicago
7
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
18 mi
·
22 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
8
Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 294 South, IL 38: Indiana
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 294 South, IL 38: Indiana
10
Keep slight left
1.0 mi
·
2 min
11
Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
12
Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
13
Continue on Mile-Long Bridge
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mile-Long Bridge
14
Continue on Tri-State Tollway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 6: 159th Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 6: 159th Street
16
Keep slight right to continue on US 6 West: 159th Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 6 West: 159th Street
17
Turn straight onto West 159th Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
West 159th Street
18
Turn left onto Richmond Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Richmond Avenue
19
Continue on Richmond Avenue
279 ft
·
16 sec
·
Richmond Avenue
20
Turn left onto Sussex Avenue
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Sussex Avenue
21
Continue on California Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
California Avenue
22
Turn right onto Lancaster Drive
131 ft
·
6 sec
·
Lancaster Drive
23
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.8 mi from Aurora, IL · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.8 miles from Aurora, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in University Park, IL
The final approach into University Park, 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
$7.74 one way
$15.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.50 | $16.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.53 | $19.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.93 | $21.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.20 | $2.38 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.33 | $1.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.93 | $3.17 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
University Park, IL
Morning in University Park on Thursday
Local time
11:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Elmhurst, IL
25 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
18 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 7m 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 University Park, IL covers 49.5 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Lake Street, South Lincolnway Street, I 88 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.8 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 $7.74 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.
The drive from Aurora, IL to University Park, IL is easy. At 1h 7m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aurora, IL to University Park, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Aurora, IL to University Park, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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