Origin
Lena, IL
Afternoon in Lena on Wednesday
Local time
2:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lena, IL to Aurora, IL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 12m
Distance
112.1 mi
180 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 3m
★
6 AM
2h 12m
8 AM
2h 31m
10 AM
2h 19m
12 PM
2h 17m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 30m
8 PM
2h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lena, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 111.1 miles, the journey from Lena to Aurora is a straightforward trek across the Illinois Midwest that typically takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You can expect to spend approximately $16 on fuel for the one-way trip. Navigating this path involves connecting via North Schuyler Street, IL 73, and U-roads rather than relying on major interstates. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that connects two distinct parts of the state, making it an efficient choice if you prefer local roads over heavy highway traffic.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
56.1 miles from Lena, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate a series of local roads, meaning there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway; in fact, the longest segment on North Schuyler Street is 0 miles. The character of the road remains consistent and technical, requiring your full attention as you transition between various local routes. Since you won't be cruising on high-speed expressways, the pace feels more grounded and connected to the landscape. Prepare for frequent adjustments behind the wheel as you navigate the turns inherent to this local-road-focused path.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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 38 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
951 ft
676 ft
Total Climb
140 ft
Total Descent
415 ft
Highest Point
951 ft
Elevation Range
275 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 early in the drive near IL 73 / North Schuyler Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 12m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IL 73 / North Schuyler Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point; at 48.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IL 73 / North Schuyler Street
Turn right onto IL 73 / North Schuyler Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Turn left onto US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Navigation decision point
3
48.2 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 97A
Toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
8
108.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway | 38 mi | 40m |
| U.S. Grant Memorial Highway | 36.7 mi | 44m |
| I 39 | 21.5 mi | 23m |
| West State Road | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| North Lake Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| IL 73 | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Schuyler Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| IL 56 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
— 38 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lena, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on West Lena Street
93 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Lena Street
2
Turn right onto IL 73
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Schuyler Street
3
Continue on IL 73
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
IL 73
4
Turn left onto US 20
25 mi
·
30 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
5
Continue on US 20
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
West State Road
6
Continue on US 20
11 mi
·
13 min
·
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
Toward US 20 East: Chicago
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge onto I 39; US 51
21 mi
·
23 min
·
I 39; US 51
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 97A
Toward I 88 East Toll: Chicago
10
Merge onto I 88; IL 110
38 mi
·
40 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
11
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.
12
Turn right onto IL 31
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Lincolnway Street
13
Continue on IL 31
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Lake Street
14
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
15
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 50 minute travel time, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than fighting rush-hour highway congestion. Since there are no designated stops included in the route data, make sure to handle your refueling or rest needs before you head out or at your final destination. Keep in mind that your $16 fuel budget is an estimate, so it is wise to check local gas prices near Lena before you depart. Because this is a turn-heavy drive, ensure your GPS is updated and ready to guide you through the transition between IL 73 and local roads. Staying alert for changing road signs will be your best strategy for a smooth arrival in Aurora.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 56.1 miles from Lena, IL, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.1 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aurora, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lena, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lena, IL
This is one driving day of about 112.1 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lena, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway for about 38 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.1 mi from Lena, IL · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.1 miles from Lena, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Aurora, IL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.53 one way
$35.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.24 | $38.48 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.57 | $43.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.75 | $49.50 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.28
Reagan Memorial Tollway
(38 mi)
$2.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.6 | 0 | $11.77 | $5.38 |
| Efficient EV | 28 | 0 | $9.81 | $4.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.8 | 0 | $15.69 | $7.17 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 Wednesday
Local time
2:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
3 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
2h 12m 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 Lena, IL to Aurora, IL covers 112.1 miles and takes about 2h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, U.S. Grant Memorial Highway, I 39. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.1 miles from Lena, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.53 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 straightforward 2h 12m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IL 73 / North Schuyler Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 20 / U.S. Grant Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point; at 48.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Lena, IL to Aurora, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 676 ft to 951 ft elevation with about 140 ft of total climbing.
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