How far is Aurora, IL from South Jacksonville, IL?

The driving distance from Aurora, IL to South Jacksonville, IL is about 209.7 miles (337.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 173.4 miles (279.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 03m 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
209.73 mi
04h 01m
Flight
173.42 mi
279.1 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
173.42 mi
Kilometers
279.1 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
209.73 mi
Kilometers
337.52 km
Drive Time
04h 01m

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 04h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Jacksonville
Sun, Apr 19, 5:43 AM CDT
Return by in Aurora
Sun, Apr 19, 9:44 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Aurora
2026-04-19T01:41
Arrive South Jacksonville
Sun, Apr 19, 5:43 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:02 AM to 12:02 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
8:56 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
Normal
IL

Town in McLean County, Illinois, United States

From Aurora
104.8 mi
02h 00m
To South Jacksonville
104.9 mi
02h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph WNW
Destination
61°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 15 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aurora and South Jacksonville.

  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

    28.9 mi · 31 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 72 Business West: Jacksonville

    1987 ft · 48 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 72 Business West: Jacksonville

    132 m · 12 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Old Route 36

    1 km · 56 sec · Old Route 36

  21. 21

    Continue on East Morton Avenue

    2.5 mi · 4 min · East Morton Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    1 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto East Vandalia Road

    91 m · 13 sec · East Vandalia Road

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Vandalia Road

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 South
128 mi · 61%
I 72 West
28.9 mi · 14%
North Bridge Street
23.5 mi · 11%
South Lake Street
7.08 mi · 3%
Minkler Road
4.3 mi · 2%
Ashley Road
3.82 mi · 2%
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
04h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.3 mi
173.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Normal
02h 00m from Aurora
Leave By
8:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Aurora and Sunny near South Jacksonville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Aurora to South Jacksonville?

The road trip is about 209.7 miles (337.5 km) and usually takes 04h 01m 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?

Normal is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.8 miles from Aurora and 104.9 miles from South Jacksonville.

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

The direct path is about 173.4 miles (279.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.3 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 8:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.91 one way or $55.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Normal

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 Normal and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 2.7 mi away

City Hall - Town of Normal

Normal , IL
11 Uptown Circle, Normal, IL 61761
Parking lot
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Meeting point 4.5 mi away

City of Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
Rating 3.6/5 8 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 4.5 mi away

Bloomington Finance Department

Bloomington , IL
109 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701
City tax office

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Uptown Station

1 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

50 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Lincoln

52 mi away
Broadway and North Chicago 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 South Jacksonville. Straight-line distance: 173.42 mi (279.1 km).

Aurora

#1 Aurora

The second most populous city in Illinois.

Population196,383
Coordinates41.7605800, -88.3200700
Altitude207
CountryUnited States
South Jacksonville

#2 South Jacksonville

City in Illinois, United States of America

Population3,075
Coordinates39.7086600, -90.2281800
Altitude189
CountryUnited States
Start: Aurora (-88.32007, 41.76058)
End: South Jacksonville (-90.22818, 39.70866)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 338 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.4 gal
28.01 L · about $27.91
Round trip
$55.81
14.8 gal · 56.02 L
Estimated CO2
65.8 kg one way
Round trip: 131.5 kg / 290 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.91 $55.81
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.47 $62.94
Premium $4.65 $34.44 $68.88
Diesel $5.30 $39.25 $78.50

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Aurora and South Jacksonville. The current time is 01:41:16.

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.