Origin
Pana, IL
Afternoon in Pana on Saturday
Local time
1:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pana, 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
3h 26m
Distance
196.5 mi
316 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 14m
★
6 AM
3h 26m
8 AM
3h 51m
10 AM
3h 35m
12 PM
3h 32m
3 PM
3h 36m
5 PM
3h 49m
8 PM
3h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pana, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Pana, IL to Aurora, IL covers 196.5 miles and takes about 3h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Poplar Street, East 1st Street, Cedar Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.72 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
98.3 miles from Pana, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Poplar Street | — | — |
| East 1st Street | — | — |
| Cedar Street | — | — |
| Jackson Street | — | — |
| North 2600 East Road | — | — |
| Decatur | — | — |
| Route 51 | — | — |
| South Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Poplar Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pana, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on East 2nd Street
85 ft
·
8 sec
·
East 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto South Poplar Street
463 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Poplar Street
3
Turn right onto East 1st Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
4
Turn left onto Cedar Street
381 ft
·
5 sec
·
Cedar Street
5
Turn right onto Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jackson Street
6
Continue on North 2600 East Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2600 East Road
7
Turn left
29 mi
·
33 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward Decatur
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Decatur
9
Keep slight right to continue on Decatur
144 ft
·
4 sec
·
Decatur
10
Turn straight onto South Business Route 51
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Business Route 51
11
Continue on South Main Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Main Street
12
Continue on South Franklin Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Franklin Street
13
Continue on North Water Street
27 mi
·
36 min
·
North Water Street
14
Continue on North 1450 East Road
15 mi
·
17 min
·
North 1450 East Road
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 74 West, US 51 North: Peoria, Rockford
65 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 74 West, US 51 North: Peoria, Rockford
16
Take the exit slight right toward IL 47: Morris, Dwight
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
IL 47: Morris, Dwight
17
Turn left
32 mi
·
38 min
18
Turn right onto Walker Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Walker Road
19
Turn left onto Ashley Road
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Ashley Road
20
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Schoolhouse Road
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Schoolhouse Road
21
Turn left onto Minkler Road
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Minkler Road
22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Minkler Road
125 ft
·
4 sec
·
Minkler Road
23
Exit the roundabout onto Minkler Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Minkler Road
24
Continue on Orchard Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Orchard Road
25
Turn right
1.2 mi
·
2 min
26
Continue straight
2.5 mi
·
4 min
27
Continue straight
3.4 mi
·
5 min
28
Turn left onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
29
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 98.3 miles from Pana, IL, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
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 43 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.3 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 49m
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 Pana, 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 Pana, IL
This is one driving day of about 196.5 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Pana, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
98 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 98.3 miles from Pana, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.72 one way
$61.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $33.73 | $67.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $37.81 | $75.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.38 | $86.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.9 | 0 | $20.63 | $9.43 |
| Efficient EV | 49.1 | 0 | $17.19 | $7.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78.6 | 0 | $27.51 | $12.58 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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
1:41 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
22 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
3h 26m 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?
196.5 mi in 3h 26m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: South Poplar Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Pana, IL to Aurora, IL is easy. At 3h 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pana, IL to Aurora, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
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 3h 26m. Total distance: 196.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pana, IL to Aurora, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Aurora, IL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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