Origin
Spring Valley, IL
Evening in Spring Valley on Thursday
Local time
6:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spring Valley, IL to Aurora, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
62 mi
100 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spring Valley, IL
Jan Brndiar
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Spring Valley, IL to Aurora, IL covers 62 miles and takes about 1h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Illinois Route 71, I 80, IL 31 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.2 miles on Illinois Route 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 62 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 27m highway drive covering 62 miles, with most of the trip on Illinois Route 71 and I 80. The longest continuous stretch is about 30.2 miles on Illinois Route 71.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Illinois Route 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 30.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Illinois Route 71 and I 80. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62 miles you will encounter 12 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 7.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
7.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the ramp toward US 6: LaSalle, Peru, Ottowa
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6: LaSalle, Peru, Ottowa
5
8.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 59A
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
8
23.6 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward IL 71: Ottawa, Oswego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 93
Toward IL 71: Ottawa, Oswego
6
23.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
IL 71 / Illinois Route 71
Turn left onto IL 71 / Illinois Route 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
61.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
West Galena Boulevard
Turn left onto West Galena Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Spring Valley, IL and Aurora, IL, road signs point toward Peru, Ottowa and Oswego.
Peru
7.1 mi in
|
~11m
Ottowa
7.1 mi in
|
~11m
Oswego
23.6 mi in
|
~29m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Route 71 | 30.2 mi | 44m |
| I 80 | 14.1 mi | 15m |
| IL 31 | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| East Dakota Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| 4th Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| I 39 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| US 6 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| US 34 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Illinois Route 71
— 30.2 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spring Valley, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on IL 89
38 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Spalding Street
2
Turn right onto US 6
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Dakota Street
3
Continue on US 6
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
4th Street
4
Continue on US 6
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
5th Street
5
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street
6
Turn left onto US 6; IL 351
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Joliet Street
7
Turn right onto US 6
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
US 6
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 6: LaSalle, Peru, Ottowa
9
Merge onto I 39; US 51
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 39; US 51
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 59A
Toward I 80 East: Chicago
11
Merge onto I 80
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 93
Toward IL 71: Ottawa, Oswego
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto IL 71
30 mi
·
44 min
·
Illinois Route 71
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto Orchard Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Orchard Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto US 34
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 34
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on IL 31
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
IL 31
17
Continue on IL 31
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
IL 31
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
West Galena Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31 mi from Spring Valley, IL · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31 miles from Spring Valley, 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
$9.69 one way
$19.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.64 | $21.29 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.93 | $23.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.69 | $27.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.68 | $3.97 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
6:23 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
21 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 27m 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 Spring Valley, IL to Aurora, IL covers 62 miles and takes about 1h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Illinois Route 71, I 80, IL 31. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31 miles from Spring Valley, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.69 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 62 miles you will encounter 12 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 7.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Spring Valley, IL and Aurora, IL, road signs point toward Peru, Ottowa and Oswego.
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