Origin
Forest Lake, IL
Evening in Forest Lake on Thursday
Local time
7:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forest Lake, IL to Aurora, IL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
49 mi
79 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest Lake, IL
DMN Atölye
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Forest Lake, IL to Aurora, IL covers 49 miles and takes about 1h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, IL 53, I 355 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.66 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 49 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Forest Lake, IL to Aurora, IL covers 49 miles and takes about 1h 10m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 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 15.8 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 11.6 miles in near IL 53.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 11.6 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.6 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
11.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
IL 53
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53 toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
8
18.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 355
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355 toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
8
28.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward IL 56, I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora, Butterfield 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 20-22
Toward IL 56, I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora, Butte...
8
28.5 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora
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: Chicago, Aurora
9
29.2 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 88 East, I 88 West: Aurora, Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20
Toward I 88 East, I 88 West: Aurora, Chicago
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 Forest Lake, IL to Aurora, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Chicago
29.2 mi in
|
~41m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 15.8 mi | 19m |
| IL 53 | 11.3 mi | 14m |
| I 355 | 9.5 mi | 11m |
| Quentin Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| North Rand Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| North Lake Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Rand Road | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| South Lincolnway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 15.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest Lake, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on North Field Road
281 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Field Road
2
Turn right onto West Highland Drive
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Highland Drive
3
Turn left onto V62
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Quentin Road
4
Turn left onto US 12
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Rand Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 12
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Rand Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward IL 53 South
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto IL 53
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
IL 53
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 53
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
IL 53
Toward I 290 East: Chicago, Biesterfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 355
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
I 355
Exit 7
Toward I 355 South Tollway: Joliet
Use the slight left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 20-22
Toward IL 56, I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora, Butterfield Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 88 Toll: Chicago, Aurora
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 20
Toward I 88 East, I 88 West: Aurora, Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 88 West: Aurora
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 117
Toward IL 31, IL 56 East
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto IL 31
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Lincolnway Street
17
Continue on IL 31
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Lake Street
18
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
19
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.5 mi from Forest Lake, IL · 35m 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 24.5 miles from Forest Lake, 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
$7.66 one way
$15.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.41 | $16.82 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.43 | $18.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.82 | $21.64 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.95
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(15.8 mi)
$0.95
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 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 | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.29 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.14 |
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
Aurora, IL
Evening in Aurora on Thursday
Local time
7:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Bloomingdale, 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
19 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 10m 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 Forest Lake, IL to Aurora, IL covers 49 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, IL 53, I 355. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.5 miles from Forest Lake, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.66 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 49 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 11.6 miles (IL 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.6 miles (I 355): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Forest Lake, IL to Aurora, IL, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Pullman National Historical Park.
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