How far is Aurora, IL from Grafton, IL?

The driving distance from Aurora, IL to Grafton, IL is about 272.6 miles (438.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 222.5 miles (358.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
272.63 mi
05h 21m
Flight
222.53 mi
358.13 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Aurora.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
222.53 mi
Kilometers
358.13 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
272.63 mi
Kilometers
438.75 km
Drive Time
05h 21m

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 05h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Grafton
Thu, Apr 16, 7:15 PM CDT
Return by in Aurora
Fri, Apr 17, 12:36 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Aurora
2026-04-16T13:53
Arrive Grafton
Thu, Apr 16, 7:15 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:21 AM to 1:21 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:18 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Aurora
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Lawndale
IL

Unincorporated community in Illinois, United States

From Aurora
136.3 mi
02h 40m
To Grafton
136.3 mi
02h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WSW
Destination
63°F
Overnight

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Aurora and Grafton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aurora and Grafton.

  1. 1

    Start on West Galena Boulevard

    575 ft · 15 sec · West Galena Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Lake Street

    5.9 mi · 10 min · South Lake Street

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Orchard Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Orchard Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Minkler Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Minkler Road

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Minkler Road

    39 m · 4 sec · Minkler Road

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Minkler Road

    3.4 mi · 5 min · Minkler Road

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Schoolhouse Road

    2391 ft · 47 sec · East Schoolhouse Road

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Ashley Road

    3.8 mi · 5 min · Ashley Road

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Caton Farm Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Caton Farm Road

  11. 11

    Turn left

    7.2 mi · 10 min

  12. 12

    Continue on North Bridge Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · North Bridge Street

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    22.1 mi · 26 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit right toward I 55 South: Bloomington

    1864 ft · 46 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    62.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

    64.8 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 72 West, US 36 West: Jacksonville

    37.2 mi · 40 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 67 South: Alton

    1828 ft · 45 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto United States Route 67

    12.3 mi · 14 min · United States Route 67

  20. 20

    Continue on 1440 E

    2.3 mi · 3 min · 1440 E

  21. 21

    Continue on North State Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · North State Street

  22. 22

    Continue on South State Avenue

    2.4 mi · 3 min · South State Avenue

  23. 23

    Continue on North Main Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  24. 24

    Continue on United States Route 67

    8.1 mi · 9 min · United States Route 67

  25. 25

    Continue on North 5th Street

    14.5 mi · 17 min · North 5th Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto McClusky Road

    8.2 mi · 14 min · McClusky Road

  27. 27

    Turn right

    8 mi · 14 min

  28. 28

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    1062 ft · 24 sec · East Main Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Oak Street

    26 m · 4 sec · Oak Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Oak Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Aurora and Grafton.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
30 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 South
128 mi · 47%
I 72 West
37.2 mi · 14%
North Bridge Street
23.5 mi · 9%
United States Route 67
20.4 mi · 7%
North 5th Street
14.5 mi · 5%
McClusky Road
8.22 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 55 South

Keep slight right to continue on I 55 South: Saint Louis, Springfield

64.8 mi · 01h 10m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 21m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.1 mi
222.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lawndale
02h 40m from Aurora
Leave By
6:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Aurora and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Grafton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Aurora to Grafton?

The road trip is about 272.6 miles (438.7 km) and usually takes 05h 21m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lawndale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 136.3 miles from Aurora and 136.3 miles from Grafton.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 222.5 miles (358.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.1 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.28 one way or $72.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Aurora and Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms near Grafton.

Stop Ideas Near Lawndale

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Lawndale and the surrounding midpoint area.
Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!
Scenic stop 7.4 mi away

Route 66 Original Alignment- Driveable!

Atlanta , IL
865 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL 61723, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Tourist attraction
City of Lincoln
Meeting point 3.6 mi away

City of Lincoln

Lincoln , IL
700 Broadway St, Lincoln, IL 62656
Rating 3.8/5 4 reviews City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lawndale.

RAIL

Lincoln

10 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago Sts.
RAIL

Uptown Station

41 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Springfield station

56 mi away
East Washington and North Third Sts.
BUS

Peoria, Illinois

61 mi away
6100 West Everett M. Dirksen Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Aurora and Grafton. Straight-line distance: 222.53 mi (358.13 km).

Aurora

#1 Aurora

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population196,383
Coordinates41.7605800, -88.3200700
Altitude207
CountryUnited States
Grafton

#2 Grafton

Town in Illinois, United States

Population691
Coordinates38.9700500, -90.4315000
Altitude137
CountryUnited States
Start: Aurora (-88.32007, 41.76058)
End: Grafton (-90.4315, 38.97005)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 439 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 53m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.62 gal
36.42 L · about $36.28
Round trip
$72.55
19.24 gal · 72.84 L
Estimated CO2
85.5 kg one way
Round trip: 171 kg / 377 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.28 $72.55
Mid-grade $4.25 $40.91 $81.83
Premium $4.65 $44.77 $89.54
Diesel $5.30 $51.02 $102.05

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Aurora and Grafton. The current time is 13:53:53.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.