How far is Aurora, IL from Cairo, IL?
The driving distance from Aurora, IL to Cairo, IL is about 372.6 miles (599.6 km), with a travel time of about 07h 12m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 331.7 miles (533.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 25m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 07h 12m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Unincorporated community in Illinois
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Aurora and Cairo.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora and Cairo.
-
1
Start on West Galena Boulevard
2334 ft · 53 sec · West Galena Boulevard
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2
Turn left onto North Broadway
140 m · 13 sec · North Broadway
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3
Turn right onto East New York Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · East New York Street
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4
Turn slight right
53 m · 8 sec
-
5
Turn slight right onto North Ohio Street
608 ft · 17 sec · North Ohio Street
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6
Turn left onto East Galena Boulevard
612 ft · 18 sec · East Galena Boulevard
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7
Continue on Hill Avenue
2.5 mi · 5 min · Hill Avenue
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8
Turn straight onto Lincoln Highway
7.4 mi · 11 min · Lincoln Highway
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9
Turn left onto 143rd Street
1.6 km · 2 min · 143rd Street
-
10
Turn right onto North Division Street
1.2 mi · 3 min · North Division Street
-
11
Turn left onto North Joliet Road
2.2 mi · 5 min · North Joliet Road
-
12
Take the ramp right toward I 55 South: Bloomington
1306 ft · 32 sec
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13
Merge slight left
15.8 mi · 18 min
-
14
Take the exit slight right toward North River Road
1673 ft · 38 sec
-
15
Turn left onto County Highway 44
1704 ft · 31 sec · County Highway 44
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16
Continue on North River Road
1.4 mi · 2 min · North River Road
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17
Continue on New River Road
2.3 mi · 3 min · New River Road
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18
At the end of the road, turn right onto South Chicago Road
2655 ft · 49 sec · South Chicago Road
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19
Turn left onto West Peotone Road
3 mi · 4 min · West Peotone Road
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20
Turn right onto South Chicago Road
2 mi · 3 min · South Chicago Road
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21
Continue on Old Chicago Road
3.7 mi · 5 min · Old Chicago Road
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22
At the end of the road, turn left onto IL 102
3.6 mi · 5 min · IL 102
-
23
Turn right onto Warner Bridge Rd North 7000W Road
1.1 km · 2 min · Warner Bridge Rd North 7000W Road
-
24
Turn left onto County Road North 303 West
7.8 mi · 14 min · County Road North 303 West
-
25
Continue on North Wall Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · North Wall Street
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26
Continue on South Wall Street
1.1 km · 1 min · South Wall Street
-
27
Continue on West Water Street
2254 ft · 44 sec · West Water Street
-
28
Continue on South East Avenue
2892 ft · 49 sec · South East Avenue
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29
Turn right onto South Schuyler Avenue
1.8 mi · 3 min · South Schuyler Avenue
-
30
Take the ramp right toward I-57 South: Champaign
2010 ft · 57 sec
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31
Merge slight left
149.6 mi · 2 hr 41 min
-
32
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 South: Memphis
65.7 mi · 1 hr 11 min
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33
Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway
90 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Ken Gray Expressway
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34
Take the exit slight right toward US 51 South, IL 3 North: Cairo
3.8 mi · 7 min
-
35
Turn slight left onto Washington Avenue
93 m · 9 sec · Washington Avenue
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Washington Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Aurora and Cairo.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I-57 South
Merge slight left
150 mi · 02h 41m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Aurora and Sunny near Cairo.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Aurora to Cairo?
The road trip is about 372.6 miles (599.6 km) and usually takes 07h 12m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Paradise is a useful midpoint, sitting about 186.4 miles from Aurora and 186.2 miles from Cairo.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 331.7 miles (533.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $49.59 one way or $99.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 116.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Aurora and Sunny near Cairo.
Stop Ideas Near Paradise
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Paradise.
Mattoon station
Effingham
Illinois Terminal
Rantoul
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Aurora and Cairo. Straight-line distance: 331.72 mi (533.85 km).
#1 Aurora
The second most populous city in Illinois.
| Population | 196,383 |
| Coordinates | 41.7605800, -88.3200700 |
| Altitude | 207 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Cairo
City in Illinois, United States
| Population | 1,989 |
| Coordinates | 37.0053300, -89.1764600 |
| Altitude | 95 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cairo (-89.17646, 37.00533)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 600 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 18m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 12m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 19m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 38m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $49.59 | $99.18 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $55.93 | $111.85 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $61.20 | $122.40 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $69.75 | $139.50 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Illinois · Apr 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.