Origin
Dolton, IL
Evening in Dolton on Thursday
Local time
8:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dolton, IL to Aurora, IL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
45.3 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dolton, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 45.3-mile drive from Dolton, IL to Aurora, IL is a straightforward, 1-hour-and-13-minute journey perfect for a single-day trip. You'll primarily navigate using the Tri-State Tollway, 75th Street, and East New York Street. With a fuel cost estimated at $7, this route is budget-friendly, making it an easy addition to any Midwest exploration. The drive offers a practical, local feel, connecting two points within Illinois without requiring an overnight stay. Its relatively short distance provides flexibility for departure times and on-the-way stops, though none are officially noted on this specific itinerary.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 45.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 45.3-mile stretch, with only 8% of your journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.4 miles on the Tri-State Tollway. While much of the drive involves navigating local roads with frequent turns, the highway portion offers a chance to pick up speed. This route is characterized by its local transitions rather than long, monotonous highway segments, giving you a feel for the immediate surroundings as you progress from Dolton to Aurora.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tri-State Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 14.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.3 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: near the start (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 20.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Turn sharp left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
20.5 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Wolf Road, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 23B
Toward I 55 South: Wolf Road, Saint Louis
7
20.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
8
23.6 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward IL 83 North, IL 83 South: Kingery Road
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 274
Toward IL 83 North, IL 83 South: Kingery Road
8
23.8 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road
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 Dolton, IL to Aurora, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Louis along the way.
Saint Louis
20.5 mi in
|
~30m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-State Tollway | 14.4 mi | 17m |
| 75th Street | 13.5 mi | 23m |
| East New York Street | 6 mi | 10m |
| East 147th Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Adlai Stevenson Expressway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Illinois Route 59 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Indiana Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Sibley Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tri-State Tollway
— 14.4 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dolton, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on Lincoln Avenue
63 ft
·
11 sec
·
Lincoln Avenue
2
Turn sharp left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
3
Turn right onto East 142nd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 142nd Street
4
Turn left onto South Indiana Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Indiana Avenue
5
Turn right onto IL 83
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Sibley Boulevard
6
Continue on IL 83
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
East 147th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8
Toward I 294 North: Wisconsin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 294
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
449 ft
·
11 sec
Exit 23B
Toward I 55 South: Wolf Road, Saint Louis
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 55
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 274
Toward IL 83 North, IL 83 South: Kingery Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward IL 83 North: Kingery Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto IL 83
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Kingery Highway
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto 75th Street
13 mi
·
23 min
·
75th Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto IL 59
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Illinois Route 59
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto East New York Street
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
East New York Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto IL 31
417 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Lake Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
20
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.6 mi from Dolton, IL · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.6 miles from Dolton, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Aurora, IL
The final approach into Aurora, 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
$7.08 one way
$14.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.78 | $15.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.72 | $17.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.00 | $20.00 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.86
Tri-state Tollway
(14.4 mi)
$0.86
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.17 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Evening in Aurora on Thursday
Local time
8:23 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
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 13m 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 Dolton, IL to Aurora, IL covers 45.3 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tri-State Tollway, 75th Street, East New York Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.6 miles from Dolton, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.08 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 45.3 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: near the start (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 20.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Dolton, IL to Aurora, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Louis along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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