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

The driving distance from Aurora, IL to South Pekin, IL is about 149.8 miles (241 km), with a travel time of about 03h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 111.6 miles (179.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 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
149.73 mi
03h 01m
Flight
111.6 mi
179.61 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
111.6 mi
Kilometers
179.61 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
149.73 mi
Kilometers
240.97 km
Drive Time
03h 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 03h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Pekin
Thu, Jun 11, 9:08 AM CDT
Return by in Aurora
Thu, Jun 11, 12:10 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Aurora
2026-06-11T06:06
Arrive South Pekin
Thu, Jun 11, 9:08 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:02 AM to 11:02 AM CDT

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

Leave by
10:56 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Rooks Creek
IL

Township in Livingston County, Illinois

From Aurora
74.9 mi
01h 30m
To South Pekin
74.9 mi
01h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Jun 11 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph SSW
Destination
90°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Jun 11 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 21 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    56 mi · 1 hr

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 74 West: Peoria

    2888 ft · 49 sec

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    27.4 mi · 29 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I 474 West: Moline, Rock Island

    5.1 mi · 5 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 29: Pekin, East Peoria

    1906 ft · 52 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    766 ft · 13 sec · South Main Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Radio City Drive

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Radio City Drive

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Radio City Drive

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Radio City Drive

  23. 23

    Continue on North 8th Street

    3002 ft · 51 sec · North 8th Street

  24. 24

    Continue on North 5th Street

    2109 ft · 36 sec · North 5th Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Ann Eliza Street

    1767 ft · 30 sec · Ann Eliza Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto North 2nd Street

    5.6 mi · 10 min · North 2nd Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1 km · 2 min · West Main Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 55 South
56.3 mi · 38%
I 74 West
28 mi · 19%
North Bridge Street
23.5 mi · 16%
South Lake Street
7.08 mi · 5%
North 2nd Street
5.61 mi · 4%
I 474 West
5.05 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 55 South

Merge slight left

56 mi · 01h 00m

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
03h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.2 mi
111.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rooks Creek
01h 30m from Aurora
Leave By
10:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Aurora and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near South Pekin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 149.8 miles (241 km) and usually takes 03h 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?

Rooks Creek is a useful midpoint, sitting about 74.9 miles from Aurora and 74.9 miles from South Pekin.

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

The direct path is about 111.6 miles (179.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.2 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 10:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.91 one way or $39.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms around Aurora and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near South Pekin.

Stop Ideas Near Rooks Creek

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Rooks Creek, 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 Rooks Creek.

RAIL

Pontiac station

5 mi away
721 West Washington St.
RAIL

Dwight station

33 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Uptown Station

48 mi away
100 East Parkinson St.
RAIL

Gilman

61 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Aurora and South Pekin. Straight-line distance: 111.6 mi (179.61 km).

Aurora

#1 Aurora

The second most populous city in Illinois.

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

#2 South Pekin

Village in Illinois, USA

Population1,081
Coordinates40.4944800, -89.6517700
Altitude157
CountryUnited States
Start: Aurora (-88.32007, 41.76058)
End: South Pekin (-89.65177, 40.49448)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 241 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.28 gal
20 L · about $19.91
Round trip
$39.82
10.56 gal · 40 L
Estimated CO2
46.9 kg one way
Round trip: 93.8 kg / 207 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $19.91 $39.82
Mid-grade $4.25 $22.46 $44.91
Premium $4.65 $24.57 $49.15
Diesel $5.30 $28.01 $56.01

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 · Jun 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Aurora and South Pekin. The current time is 06:06:50.

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.