Origin
Dixon, IL
Afternoon in Dixon on Saturday
Local time
2:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dixon, IL to Aurora, IL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
67.6 mi
109 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dixon, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Dixon to Aurora is 67.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 19 minutes via Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Illinois, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a local drive with a good number of turns, making it feel more engaged than a pure highway cruise. It's a manageable distance, perfect for a single-day trip without feeling rushed. You'll likely find this route straightforward for a quick journey between these two Illinois cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 62.2 mi | 1h 6m |
| North Lake Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| South Galena Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| IL 56 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Lincolnway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Galena Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 62.2 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dixon, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on East 6th Street
282 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 6th Street
2
Turn left onto US 52; IL 26
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Galena Avenue
3
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
62 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
6
Take the exit onto IL 56
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 56
Exit 117
Toward IL 31 East, IL 56 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto IL 31
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Lincolnway Street
8
Continue on IL 31
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Lake Street
9
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
10
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.8 miles from Dixon, 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 62.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 64.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 52; IL 26 / South Galena Avenue
Turn left onto US 52; IL 26 / South Galena Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
4
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge onto I 88; IL 110 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Merge point - match speed before joining
8
64.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
IL 56
Take the exit onto IL 56 toward IL 31 East, IL 56 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 117
Toward IL 31 East, IL 56 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.57 one way
$21.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.60 | $23.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.01 | $26.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.93 | $29.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.73
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(62.2 mi)
$3.73
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$4
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.10 | $3.24 |
| Efficient EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27 | 0 | $9.46 | $4.33 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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
Aurora, IL
Afternoon in Aurora on Saturday
Local time
2:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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 19m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you won't be on a continuous interstate for the entire journey. While 100% of the route utilizes highway, the longest uninterrupted stretch is a solid 62.2 miles on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. This suggests a primary experience on a major highway, but with potential for more varied road conditions or exits as you approach your destination. Be prepared for a driving experience that might involve more navigation and changes in scenery compared to a pure highway run.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.2 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 52; IL 26 / South Galena Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 19m drive. You will face about 6 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 (US 52; IL 26 / South Galena Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Arriving in Aurora, IL
Full guide →Founded 1835
Aurora is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois, located about 35 miles west of Chicago. It's at the very edge of Chicagoland and, situated on the Fox River, has many opportunities for urban, suburban, and rural recreation. Often overlooked, Aurora in fact has many surprisingly interesting attractions and a downtown unlike that of a typical suburb. It is probably best known for being the setting of the "Wayne's World" movies.
Top landmarks
- • Aurora University — private university in Aurora, Illinois, U.S
- • Hotel Arthur — United States historic place
- • Graham Building — historic building in Aurora, Illinois
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 67.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.2 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.73 in tolls one way, starting with Reagan Memorial Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 52; IL 26 / South Galena Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Aurora, IL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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