This straightforward 40.5-mile drive from Chicago to North Aurora, Illinois, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 56 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and the Eisenhower Expressway, with a small portion on South Ashland Avenue. Given its short duration and modest $6 estimated fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick journey within the Midwest region. It offers a practical way to travel between two points in Illinois without requiring an overnight stay, making it a convenient option for local travel or a quick errand.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 40.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive with about 30% of the journey on highways. The bulk of your travel will be on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, featuring a significant uninterrupted stretch of 23.9 miles. This means you'll experience periods of consistent, faster-paced driving typical of toll roads. As you transition off the main expressways onto South Ashland Avenue, the character of the drive will shift to a more local, potentially slower pace. This blend of efficient highway travel and surface street navigation defines the overall feel of the route.
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 23.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near West Van Buren Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 40.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (West Van Buren Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in|West Van Buren Street
Turn left onto West Van Buren Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
15 mi into trip|~23m 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 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, Indiana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 15A
Toward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora...
8
16.9 mi into trip|~26m in|I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 138
Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)
8
39 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the exit toward IL 31, IL 56 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 117
Toward IL 31, IL 56 East
6
40.5 mi into trip|~56m in|West State Street
Turn left onto West State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chicago, IL and North Aurora, IL, road signs point toward Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
Indiana
15 mi in|~23m|via I 88; IL 110
22Nd Street (Cermak Road)
16.9 mi in|~26m|via I 88; IL 110
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
23.9 mi
29m
Eisenhower Expressway
12.1 mi
16m
South Ashland Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
South Lincolnway Street
0.9 mi
2m
West Cermak Road
0.8 mi
1m
West Van Buren Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West State Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 23.9 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chicago, IL and North Aurora, IL.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi·1 min·this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto West Cermak Road
0.8 mi·1 min·West Cermak Road
3
Turn right onto South Ashland Avenue
1.7 mi·3 min·South Ashland Avenue
4
Turn left onto West Van Buren Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·West Van Buren Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward I 290 West
6
Merge onto I 290; IL 110
12 mi·16 min·Eisenhower Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 88; IL 110
1.9 mi·2 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 15AToward I 88 West Toll, I 294 South Toll: Aurora, IndianaUse the slight left lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 88; IL 110
22 mi·26 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Exit 138Toward 22nd Street (Cermak Road)Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 117Toward IL 31, IL 56 EastUse the right lane.
10
Turn left onto IL 31; IL 56
0.9 mi·2 min·South Lincolnway Street
11
Turn left onto West State Street
68 ft·3 sec·West State Street
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.2 mi from Chicago, IL
· 30m into the drive
The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Chicago, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in North Aurora, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into North Aurora, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.33 one way
$12.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg14 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$6.95
$13.90
premium
$4.89
$7.79
$15.59
diesel
$5.61
$8.94
$17.88
Estimated Tolls: $1.43
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(23.9 mi)$1.43
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
12.2
0
$4.25
$1.94
Efficient EV
10.1
0
$3.54
$1.62
EV Truck/SUV
16.2
0
$5.67
$2.59
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Chicago, IL
Afternoon
in Chicago on Thursday
Local time
4:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 to 15 mph39% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:58AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:30AM CDT until April 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Destination
North Aurora, IL
Afternoon
in North Aurora on Thursday
Local time
4:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Elmhurst, IL
20 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
56m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chicago, IL to North Aurora, IL covers 40.5 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Eisenhower Expressway, South Ashland Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.2 miles from Chicago, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.33 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 is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 40.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (West Van Buren Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles (I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Chicago, IL and North Aurora, IL, road signs point toward Indiana and 22Nd Street (Cermak Road).
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
