How far is Aurora, IL from Harvard, IL?

The driving distance from Aurora, IL to Harvard, IL is about 56.9 miles (91.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 48.2 miles (77.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 47m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
56.85 mi
01h 23m
Flight
48.13 mi
77.46 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Aurora.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
48.13 mi
Kilometers
77.46 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
56.85 mi
Kilometers
91.49 km
Drive Time
01h 23m

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 01h 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Harvard
Thu, Apr 23, 4:33 AM CDT
Return by in Aurora
Thu, Apr 23, 5:56 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Aurora
2026-04-23T03:09
Arrive Harvard
Thu, Apr 23, 4:33 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:24 AM to 11:24 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:42 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Aurora
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Salina
IL

Township of Illinois

From Aurora
28.5 mi
00h 41m
To Harvard
28.4 mi
00h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
78°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Galena Boulevard

    575 ft · 15 sec · West Galena Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Lake Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · North Lake Street

  3. 3

    Continue on South Lincolnway Street

    1885 ft · 39 sec · South Lincolnway Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward I 88 West Toll, IL 56 West Toll: Chicago, Dekalb-Iowa

    118 m · 10 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on I 88 West, IL 56 West: DeKalb-Iowa

    3054 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    2.8 mi · 3 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 47

    1295 ft · 32 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on IL 47

    858 ft · 21 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on IL 47

    60 m · 7 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right

    12.1 mi · 18 min

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    42 m · 3 sec

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout

    2.4 mi · 4 min

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    37 m · 2 sec

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout

    4.9 mi · 7 min

  16. 16

    Turn left onto U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Brier Hill Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Brier Hill Road

  18. 18

    Continue on U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

    2.8 mi · 4 min · U.S. Grant Memorial Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on East Grant Highway

    1.1 km · 55 sec · East Grant Highway

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Grant Highway

    28 m · 2 sec · East Grant Highway

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto East Grant Highway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · East Grant Highway

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward East Grant Highway

    60 m · 4 sec · East Grant Highway

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto East Grant Highway

    4.4 mi · 6 min · East Grant Highway

  24. 24

    Turn right onto South State Street

    10.6 mi · 16 min · South State Street

  25. 25

    At the end of the road, turn left onto South Division Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Division Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Division Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
26 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
1 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
45.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South State Street
10.6 mi · 19%
East Grant Highway
8.4 mi · 15%
IL 47
7.74 mi · 14%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
7.01 mi · 12%
U.S. Grant Memorial Highway
4.39 mi · 8%
North Lake Street
2.16 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

12.1 mi · 00h 18m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 23m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.7 mi
48.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Salina
00h 41m from Aurora
Leave By
3:42 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Aurora and Mostly Sunny near Harvard.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 56.9 miles (91.5 km) and usually takes 01h 23m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Salina is a useful midpoint, sitting about 28.5 miles from Aurora and 28.4 miles from Harvard.

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

The direct path is about 48.2 miles (77.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:42 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.58 one way or $15.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Aurora and Mostly Sunny near Harvard.

Stop Ideas Near Salina

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Salina, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Naperville

41 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

Plano

43 mi away
101 West Main Street
BUS

Rockford, Illinois

47 mi away
7559 Walton St.
RAIL

Glenview station

57 mi away
1116 Depot St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Aurora and Harvard. Straight-line distance: 48.13 mi (77.46 km).

Aurora

#1 Aurora

The second most populous city in Illinois.

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

#2 Harvard

Private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Population8,979
Coordinates42.4222400, -88.6137100
Altitude292
CountryUnited States
Start: Aurora (-88.32007, 41.76058)
End: Harvard (-88.61371, 42.42224)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 91 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.01 gal
7.59 L · about $7.58
Round trip
$15.16
4.02 gal · 15.18 L
Estimated CO2
17.9 kg one way
Round trip: 35.7 kg / 79 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.58 $15.16
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.55 $17.10
Premium $4.65 $9.35 $18.71
Diesel $5.30 $10.66 $21.32

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

There is no time difference between Aurora and Harvard. The current time is 03:09:46.

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.