Origin
University Park, IL
Morning in University Park on Thursday
Local time
11:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from University Park, IL to Aurora, IL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
57m
Distance
53.2 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
University Park, IL
Quang Vuong
Aurora, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from University Park, IL to Aurora, IL covers 53.2 miles and takes about 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on California Avenue, 167th Street, Kedzie Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.32 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 53.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 57m drive with frequent turns across 53.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
California Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 University Park, IL to Aurora, IL is easy. At 57m 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 University Park, IL to Aurora, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| California Avenue | — | — |
| 167th Street | — | — |
| Kedzie Avenue | — | — |
| I 80 West | — | — |
| I 355 | — | — |
| Veterans Memorial Tollway | — | — |
| 75th Street | — | — |
| Route 59 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
California Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between University Park, IL and Aurora, IL.
1
Start on Lancaster Drive
131 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lancaster Drive
2
Turn right onto California Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
California Avenue
3
Turn right onto 167th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
167th Street
4
Turn left onto Kedzie Avenue
295 ft
·
8 sec
·
Kedzie Avenue
5
Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 West
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 West
6
Merge slight left
14 mi
·
16 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 355 Toll North: Rockford
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 355 Toll North: Rockford
8
Continue on Veterans Memorial Tollway
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Veterans Memorial Tollway
9
Take the exit slight right toward 75th Street, Woodridge, Darien
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
75th Street, Woodridge, Darien
10
Turn left onto 75th Street
8.9 mi
·
15 min
·
75th Street
11
Turn right onto Illinois Route 59
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Illinois Route 59
12
Turn left onto East New York Street
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
East New York Street
13
Turn left onto North Lake Street
417 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Lake Street
14
Turn right onto West Galena Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
West Galena Boulevard
15
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.6 mi from University Park, IL · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.6 miles from University Park, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Aurora, IL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Aurora, IL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.32 one way
$16.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.13 | $18.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.24 | $20.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.75 | $23.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.59 | $2.55 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.45 | $3.40 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Morning in Aurora on Thursday
Local time
11:09 AM
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
18 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
57m 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 University Park, IL to Aurora, IL covers 53.2 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are California Avenue, 167th Street, Kedzie Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.6 miles from University Park, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.32 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.
The drive from University Park, IL to Aurora, IL is easy. At 57m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from University Park, IL to Aurora, IL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from University Park, IL to Aurora, IL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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